Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said Sunday’s 8-0 thrashing of Sheffield United is a clear indication that his team’s motivation and mentality are spot on, but insisted there is still room for improvement in their performance.
Sean Longstaff began the rout by putting Newcastle ahead in the 21st minute and the visitors were 7-0 up with 15 minutes remaining, before substitute Alexander Isak routinely completed the rout for Howe’s side, who had entered the league game after emerging from a tough 0-0 draw with AC Milan in the Champions League.
The annihilation of the Blades was Newcastle’s biggest away win in the league and saw them becoming the first team in Premier League history to have eight different scorers in one game. It also matched their record league victory which was an 8-0 hammering of Sheffield Wednesday in 1999.
“It was very good. I don’t know whether it was the complete performance,” Howe said. “We are always looking to find things to improve … I’m delighted with the players.
“We started really well and got the goal early. That settled us down and we played some really good football after that. It shows you that the players were very motivated for the game. They were hungry for goals and for success.
“I do think we’ve got a really motivated group. I see really good character traits through the whole squad. It’s a long season for us, we’ve got a lot of challenges to come but certainly the last week has been a return to form for us.”
Newcastle finished fourth last season and are currently eighth on nine points after six games in the current campaign, nine points behind leaders Manchester City.