Sheffield United star left red faced with pre-match Newcastle United confession

Newcastle United fans were quick to poke fun at Sheffield United defender Chris Basham following yesterday’s 8-0 scoreline.

In the build-up to the Premier League clash at Bramall Lane, Sunderland-supporting Basham wished to “get one over” on the Magpies.

“They are all big games in the Premier League but this isn’t just another game, it is Newcastle United and obviously they’ll have come to us having been to the San Siro to play AC Milan in midweek,” Basham told the Blades’ matchday programme.

“Their sights have totally changed over the last year or so, they have qualified for the Champions League and their hopes and aspirations now will be about silverware.

“It is a game with added significance for me in all honesty, there will be a lot of people in the away end I know, but as a Sunderland fan I always want to get one over them and obviously playing for Sheffield United we want our first three points to get our season up-and-running, that is the most important factor to me.”

However, brutally for Basham, the 35-year-old was left red-faced as his club suffered their biggest-ever league defeat. And Newcastle fans were in no mood to show any sympathy.

“I would 8 to be Chris Basham after that game,” said one fan, while another said: “If you weren’t laughing along already...”

Basham grew up in Hebburn and was on the books of Newcastle as a kid before forging a professional career at Bolton Wanderers, Blackpool and now the Blades.

He started on the bench before being introduced for the remaining quarter of an hour.