- By Ewan Harkness at Bramall Lane
Howe praises Chelsea loanee Hall, after Magpies record breaking 8-0 thrashing of Sheffield United
By Ewan Harkness at Bramall Lane
Sheffield United 0 Newcastle United 8
Chelsea loanee Lewis Hall made his debut tonight in Newcastle’s record breaking 8-0 thrashing of Sheffield United.
Hall came off the bench in the 80th minute to a warm welcome from the traveling Magpies fans, who were in high spirits while 7-0 up.
Capital Football spoke to Howe on how he thought Hall was settling in.
He said: “Lewis is settling in well and we’re very pleased with him, we will see more of him but that's down to Lewis and how he performs.
“He’s a player of real talent and I certainly believe in him, but we have a strong squad so he’s going to have to fight for his place."
“A strength with Lewis is that he is versatile and can play in midfield as well, but I personally think left back is his best position.”
Hall came on at left wing back and worked hard, seeing his side add another goal in the mauling of the Blades.
It was Newcastle’s joint biggest win in Premier League history.
Newcastle have a £28million obligation to buy the Chelsea academy graduate at the end of the season, however there is serious competition at left back from Dan Burn and Matt Targett
Howe’s decision to stick with Burn proved a success, with the 6ft 6ins tall defender from Blyth displaying his immense aerial threat in the 31st minute, arriving at the back post off an in-swinging corner to put the magpies 2-0 up.
The Magpies dominance continued as minutes later set piece specialist Kieran Trippier delivered another free kick, which was headed home by Dutchman Sven Botman for his first goal at the club.
Newcastle piled on the agony in the 55th minute, with Callum Wilson heading home the fourth from a Trippier cross, making it a hat trick of assists for the ex-Spurs defender.
Only six minutes later Gordon scored one of the goals of the season so far, cutting in off the left and curling the ball from outside the box into the bottom corner past a hopeless Foderingham to make it 5-0.
Newcastle refused to let up with Miguekl Almiron netting the sixth, after a beautifully weighted through ball from Bruno Guimareas, who then tucked away Newcastle’s seventh goal minutes later.
Alexander Isak proved his value off the bench in the 87th minute showing great composure to tuck home Newcastle’s eight and final goal.
While it may be a day to remember for Lewis Hall, for Sheffield United it is certainly one to forget with the 8-0 loss their worst ever home league defeat that leaves them propping up the division without a win in six outings
Teams: Blades: Sheffield United XI: Foderingham; Bogle, Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Robinson; Hamer, Norwood; McAtee, Vinicius Souza, Thomas; Archer.
Magpies: Pope; Trippier, Schär, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Bruno Guimarães, Anderson; Almirón, Wilson, Barnes.
