Newcastle United 1-0 Sheffield United: Joe Willock scores for sixth straight game as fans return

Joe Willock is the third Newcastle player to score in six consecutive Premier League games after Papiss Cisse in 2012 and Alan Shearer in 1996

Joe Willock scored for the sixth successive game as Newcastle United welcomed 10,000 fans back to St James' Park by beating relegated Sheffield United.

The 21-year-old on-loan Arsenal midfielder headed home Jacob Murphy's cross in front of the Gallowgate End to become the youngest-ever player to net in six straight Premier League games.

Willock's strike ensured a relatively serene reunion with supporters for Magpies boss Steve Bruce - who has come under criticism from a section of fans - although there were a few smatterings of disquiet.

That could have been different had David McGoldrick taken an early chance to put the visitors in front but he steered Enda Stevens' lay-off wide from just inside the box.

After that let-off, however, Allan Saint-Maximin teased and tormented the Blades backline, playing a key part in the goal, before being substituted with what appeared to be a calf injury in the second half.

Indeed, injuries were the only real downside for the hosts, already without top scorer Callum Wilson, as Willock also limped off to cast doubt over whether he will have the chance to extend his scoring run.

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Magpies hit form - at right or wrong time?

Bruce will point to injury and unavailability as one of the reasons for the Magpies' mediocre season, having been deprived of Wilson and long Covid sufferers Maximin and Jamaal Lascelles for long spells.

With Joelinton also withdrawn in the first half and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka - clearly in pain - forced to finish the game as Newcastle had made all their permitted substitutions, Bruce would be forgiven for being happy to see the season end on Sunday.

On the other hand, his side are in arguably their best form of the campaign after a fourth win in eight games - a run that has included victories over West Ham and Leicester, draws with Liverpool and Tottenham, and a display that gave champions Manchester City a run for their money.

If their walking wounded can round the campaign off with a win at Fulham, Bruce's side, who began Wednesday 17th in the table, could astonishingly match or better their 13th-placed finish last term.

One of their first orders of business this summer will surely be to see if they can tempt Willock to return, either on a lengthier loan or permanently, after proving a revelation since his January transfer deadline day switch.

He showed he is as adept with his head as with his feet by rising above Jayden Bogle to power home the winner in first-half stoppage time, a goal met with acclaim by Newcastle fans attending a home game for the first time in almost 15 months.

Ramsdale again impresses for travel-sick Blades

Aaron Ramsdale has suffered successive relegations with Bournemouth and Sheffield United

McGoldrick and keeper Aaron Ramsdale have been two of the shining lights in a forgettable season for Sheffield United and both did their best to help the Blades come away with something.

While McGoldrick did waste the visitors' best chance seven minutes in, his effort was only just wide and he was incredibly unlucky with a dipping 25-yard shot in the second half that clipped the bar.

Ramsdale, meanwhile, came through a testing opening few weeks with the club to produce a string of superb displays and the £18.5m signing made a stunning one-handed save to keep out Jonjo Shelvey's close-range header.

He produced a save just as good to deny Willock, although the offside flag would have ruled that one out, before reading Saint-Maximin's intentions to deny Dwight Gayle a sure-fire tap-in after the break.

Ultimately, though, neither player could prevent a 16th defeat in 19 away games for the Blades, who will bid to avoid two unwanted Premier League records when fans return to Bramall Lane for their final game at home to Burnley.

This loss equalled the mark of 29 Premier League defeats in a season, held by Ipswich, Sunderland and Derby. And they remain on 19 goals, one short of Derby's record-low of 20 in 2007-08.

'We'd love to bring him here' - what they said

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce speaking to BBC Sport: "The supporters were terrific. When you think there were only 10,000 here, the difference is amazing.

"We could have put it to bed a bit earlier. Some of our play in the first half was very decent.

"We all aspire to take Newcastle into the top half of the table. We have to be actively better than just surviving. We have got the makings of a half-decent team."

On the prospects of keeping Joe Willock at Newcastle: "It's a double-edged sword. We have to respect he's Arsenal's player. If we can, we'd love to bring him here.

"Let's see what we can do because he's exactly what we needed. Joe has still got a lot to learn but we have given him a freedom and a licence to get forward. He is a young player enjoying his football."

Blades caretaker boss Paul Heckingbottom: "We started really well, stopped Newcastle playing forwards, won the ball back in good areas and then broke from those areas and created chances, which we didn't take.

"Then we got punished with the last kick before half-time, and that's been the story of the season, hasn't it? It's been no lack of effort, the players have been there."

Saint-Maximin rivals Messi as dribble king - the stats

• Newcastle have won four of their past seven Premier League games (D1 L2), as many as they had in their previous 23 matches in the competition combined.

• This was Newcastle's first home win without conceding in the Premier League since June 2020, with that also coming against Sheffield United in a 3-0 victory.

• Sheffield United were beaten for the 16th time away from home in the league this term, with only Burnley in 2009-10 (17) ever suffering more away defeats in a single Premier League campaign.

• Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale ended on the losing side in a Premier League game for the 50th time, with his 74 appearances being the fewest to 50 defeats of any player in the competition's history.

• Newcastle's Allan Saint-Maximin completed 15 dribbles against Sheffield United; the joint-most by a player in a single game in the top five European leagues this season, along with Lionel Messi versus Celta Vigo (also 15).

What's next?

Newcastle finish their Premier League season with a trip to relegated Fulham on Sunday (16:00 BST), while Sheffield United host Burnley at the same time.