If Bruno Guimaraes is £100m then Alexander Isak would command more as Newcastle thump a Sheffield United 5-1 side - who surrendered in the face of relegation, writes CRAIG HOPE

Sheffield United are relegated, and the league table would have you believe it was they who had suffered the points deduction.

Not even the financial mismanagement of their rivals could save them after a season in which the white flag was waved long ago. They brought it with them to St James’ Park, too.

Only three teams in Premier League history have finished with less than the 16 points they have, and with three matches to go you cannot see them adding to their tally. Not after a game in which they set out with a fighting spirit, only to emerge for the second half with that flag.

The score was 1-1 after 45 minutes and that was flattering for Newcastle. The Toon Army looked like a bunch of plodders in the first half. They quickened that to a march in the second, aided by the surrender of Chris Wilder’s Blades, who had been so dangerous to that point.

The overriding emotion for Eddie Howe was relief, because his side should have trailed by at least two at the interval. For Wilder, it was more a case of pain relief.

’It (relegation) stings and it hurts,’ he said. ‘The points tally is completely unacceptable. We have to own it. I've still got another year left of my contract. I'd like to think that the supporters can trust me. I'm enthusiastic and committed along with my coaching staff to get it right. We know exactly what direction we need to go, what the culture is going to look like.’

Sheff United were blown away by European-chasing Newcastle, whose striker Alexander Isak scored twice to move within one of 20-goal Cole Palmer and Erling Haaland at the top of the league’s scoring charts. For all the talk of £100million offers for Bruno Guimaraes - he was also on target - it is Isak who would command a greater fee.

‘I would not swap him for anyone,’ said Howe. ‘I don’t want to be addressing that (players’ futures) every week, but you want them showcasing their talents to the world. We have to work as a club so that the players feel the ambition and momentum.’

Isak, however, might have wished he was playing for the visitors in the first half. Newcastle picked up where they left off at Crystal Palace on Wednesday - slow and sleepy - and it was no surprise when they fell behind within five minutes.

The Blades worked a corner short and, when Gustavo Hamer hoisted a ball to the far post, there were three yellow jerseys queuing up to connect. It was defender Anel Ahmedhodzic who bustled his way to the front and headed through Martin Dubrvaka.

Howe said following the 2-0 defeat at Palace that his players had seemed reluctant to shoot, and it was the same here. It was only when Isak took responsibility and slammed first time into the bottom corner from Jacob Murphy’s throughball that they had parity, although it was barely deserved.

Come half-time, Newcastle’s Dan Burn had twice made goalmouth blocks to prevent certain goals. Was the great escape on? 

By the time the hosts smashed their fifth through Callum Wilson on 72 minutes, the only escape in evidence was the away supporters streaming for the exits.

Guimaraes scored a diving header in the 54th minute, Isak converted a penalty just after the hour and Ben Osborn turned into his own net a few minutes later after a game of pinball from a corner. 

It means Sheff United have moved to within three of a century of goals conceded and, in losing 13-1 to Newcastle over two fixtures this term, they have suffered the biggest aggregate reversal in Premier League history.

There were still 60 seconds to play when Wilder left his dugout and shook hands with Howe. He would be forgiven for wanting this all to be over rather quickly now.