Sheffield United vs Newcastle – Premier League LIVE: Sean Longstaff, Dan Burn and Sven Botman score as Eddie Howe’s Magpies make comfortable work of Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades

Sheffield United 0-3 Newcastle United

The action resumes at Bramall Lane.

An attacking change for the Blades for the second half

Football hinges on those chances that are taken, and those that are squandered. Sheffield United had promising sparks early on, but nothing to show for it. If Luke Thomas had put away one of his opportunities – or even just put Pope under more pressure – then this could very easily be a different scenario now.

What can Paul Heckingbottom do now in the break?

The second and third goals – which have extended this game far wider than you might have expected in the first half hour – were Newcastle making the most of their set pieces. Dan Burn was at the back post to head it in for 2-0.

What will Eddie Howe be saying at half-time?

There’s no time to take it, and the Magpies are three goals to the good at Bramall Lane.

Newcastle could still be disappointed from the game, with Harvey Barnes off injured, but they’ve gone a long way to securing the win in that first half.

It would have been so different if Luke Thomas had converted one of his early half-chances for Sheffield United…

Final minute of stoppage time, and Gordon had a deflected shot which was tipped over for a corner.

Sloppy from Sheffield United at the back, with the ball played across being intercepted by Longstaff, who manages to keep the ball in play. It didn’t amount to anything, but the Blades are going to have to keep eagle eyed or risk giving up silly opportunities…

Six added minutes in this first half.

50/50 in terms of possession… not reflected in the scoreline.

Another corner for the Magpies comes out of the box to Gordon, who attempts to blast one, but it flies off into the crowd behind the goal.

Foderingham in the right place to deny him once again.

Sky Sports replays have captured a bottle being thrown from the crowd after that third goal. It has hit Elliott Anderson in the leg. No damage done, but still unsavoury scenes which are unnecessary in football.

They did look promising at the start – but the scoreline does not reflect it.

It’s comfortably headed away by the Magpies.

His shot is straight at the keeper, but it’s a sign that Newcastle are not going to be happy to settle for just three goals this afternoon.

On his 50th club appearance, Sven Botman makes it three. Trippier’s free kick is headed in by Botman, and it evades the goalkeeper and goes in the far post. Magpies have almost certainly killed this one off early doors… the question might be how many.

Sheffield United 0-3 Newcastle United

Jack Robinson goes in the book for the hosts, after making a rash tackle to bring down a Newcastle man in the right hand side.

Saved by the goalkeeper well.

That corner does count for something! It’s swung in, and Dan Burn is at the back post to head it home. His first goal of the season.

Sheffield United 0-2 Newcastle United.

Corner comes in, and Almiron hits it, and it comes off another Newcastle player, and forces Foderingham to tip it out for another corner.

The Bosnian is shown a yellow card for hacking down a Newcastle player out wide.

The free kick is whipped in, but it goes wide of the post, after eluding Callum Wilson. A let off for the Blades.

He might have a problem again. It looked to hit a hand, and that probably narrowly kept the ball in play, before it was played across by Anthony Gordon to Longstaff to bury it for Newcastle’s 1-0 lead.

Sheffield United players are convinced the ball was out in the build-up…

The Blades are definitely going for this one. Souza blasts a shot from about 25 yards out, which stings the hands of Pope, but no real trouble for the Magpies yet.

It’s been pretty even, and the Blades have had their chances both before and after Barnes was injured, but I wonder how much things will change as the game progresses.

Ball falls to Thomas at the far post, an excellent ball, but he’s in an awkward position, and he shoots it wide of the post. A big opportunity for the Blades there.

A brief breather for both sides as Barnes receives treatment. He’s on his feet now, trudging slowly off the pitch. Looks like a probable change required…

The fans rise to applaud the memory of Sheffield United Women’s No. 8 Maddy Cusack.

The ball is played to Newcastle’s No 9, but he’s unable to find a lot of space, and his shot from the edge of the box tests Foderingham, but not too much…

A lot of play in the middle of the park, Sheffield United playing it around, but they need to be careful, as the Magpies are eager to try and take the ball off them.

The hosts have the first half-chance, Bogle playing the ball across, but Thomas is unable to control it efficiently, and it’s blocked and the danger is cleared.

Referee Stuart Attwell blows his whistle and we’re underway at Bramall Lane. Hosts in red and white stripes, Newcastle in their dark and bright change strip.

Sheffield United players coming out with Cusack 8 on their shirts.

With four changes, as Newcastle fight on four fronts, how will Callum Wilson and the other incoming stars make a difference to the Magpies?

Callum Wilson ahead of the game at Bramall Lane

The hosts are holding a number of tributes to Maddy Cusack, who died this week at the age of 27. She adorns the cover of today’s match-day programme, and there are memorials in and around Bramall Lane today. The Blades will be deterined to turn their pain into a positive performance today.

Match-day programme featuring Maddy Cusack

After this afternoon’s 2pm games, Newcastle sit in 12th place on six points. Three points today would see them fly up the table to eighth place, above Manchester United.

For the Blades, they’re sitting in 18th place with one point, only ahead of fellow promoted sides Luton Town and Burnley on goal difference. A point today won’t see them catch Bournemouth on three points, but a win today and they’ll escape the drop zone…

Following last week’s win against Brentford, and their draw in Milan on Tuesday, this is the team that has been selected as Newcastle United look to get three points in Sheffield this afternoon. There’s four changes from the draw at AC Milan, with Wilson, Anderson, Almiron and Barnes coming into the team.

It’s been a tough week for Sheffield United, with the death of Maddy Cusack, a midfielder for the Women’s side, as well as working in marketing for the Men’s team.

They’re still looking for their first win since their promotion back to the Premier League, and this is the 11 Paul Heckingbottom has tasked with taking on the Magpies.

Hello and welcome to MailSport’s live coverage of Sheffield United versus Newcastle United. Kick-off at Bramall Lane is at 4.30pm, which is less than half an hour away.