Sharp eyeing great escape after Sheffield United beat Newcastle

Last-placed Sheffield United have ended the longest winless run to start a Premier League season by beating 10-man Newcastle United 1-0.

With Newcastle already a man down following the 45th-minute sending-off of winger Ryan Fraser, Sheffield United had no problems seeing out the win.

Newcastle was an obliging opponent for Sheffield United to end its winless streak, with the visitors over-run even before Fraser was sent off for collecting a second yellow card - three minutes after his first - for a late tackle on David McGoldrick.

Rhian Brewster's deflected shot almost made it 2-0 but the ball rebounded off the post and the hosts endured a nervy finale with Jayden Bogle going dangerously close to an own goal.

But speaking afterwards at Bramall Lane, Bruce underlined that he had no intention of walking out of his own volition, while accepting that he must bear some of the burden for the club's on-field misfortunes.

Sheffield United moved onto five points, leaving Chris Wilder's team nine from safety approaching the halfway point of the season.

"I'll never ever walk away from a challenge", he told Sky Sports. It was scrappy at times, but in the first-half I thought we were brilliant. It was important we got a win soon.

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"Everyone has written us off, the pressure is off".

"We got the luck we deserved and saw it through. We're good enough to do it".

The hosts' manager Wilder summed up his feelings after the whistle. Every minute of every hour of every day!

"I felt we had an identity and it was us with the handbrake off, going for it and playing well in and out of possession", he said.

"We've not had a great time in the last few months, but we've got to keep our heads high now". "I thought the referee got it spot on when he didn't give it".

Sharp took a few deep breaths and sent the excellent Darlow the wrong way.