The safest job in the world: you lose 8-0 at home and not get sacked

Sheffield United has no immediate plans to sack Paul Heckingbottom after the club suffered their heaviest league defeat when they were hammered 8-0 by Newcastle. Despite being winless in their opening six Premier League games, the manager has the support of the club's board and is expected to be in charge of the team for Saturday's game at West Ham.

When asked whether he would be the manager for the next game, Heckingbottom assured the press he was saying.

"Yes, 100 per cent. This might be a theme now by the looks of it. I can't answer any of that, the game, the players, my department, yeah no problem, but things like that, you are asking the wrong man."

Heckingbottom, who guided the club to promotion last season, has overseen a difficult few days following the death of women's player Maddy Cusack earlier in the week. The midfielder, who also worked for the club's marketing department, was just 27, and the club were left "devastated." And Heckingbottom admits he will be glad to see the back of a horrible week.

"It has affected a lot of people. There were tears on the pitch before the game. But we were determined to end what has been a really tough week strongly and we weren't able to do that. It has been a tough week for everyone at the club and one we want over."

After his successful stint at Barnsley, a brief period at Leeds United and a fleeting adventure at Hibernian in Scotland, Heckingbottom joined Sheffield United in September 2021 and led the Blades to promotion last season.

The team which destroyed Heckingbottom, Newcastle United, rewrote the history books, registering their biggest away win and also becoming the first Premier League side to have eight different players score in a game. Eddie Howe's side, who endured a difficult start to the season, now look like they are clicking and performing superbly on the back of their midweek Champions League trip to AC Milan.

Magpies on the rise - merciless Newcastle score eight to dull the Blades

They did not take their foot off the gas in the second half as they racked up the goals and that was the most pleasing thing for the boss.

"It has been a great week for us. That is football for you. Before the Brentford game last week, we knew the importance of that game, a massive point in the week and great to see us back to our very best."

Here are the biggest Premier League wins in history:

March 1995: Manchester United - Ipswich 9-0

Andrew Cole led the way with five goals, with Mark Hughes (two), Paul Ince, and Roy Keane also netting for United against Ipswich.

October 2019: Southampton - Leicester 0-9

Leicester took an early lead through Ben Chilwell, and Southampton had Ryan Bertrand sent off. Leicester added four more goals in the first half through Youri Tielemans, Ayoze Perez (two), and Jamie Vardy. Perez and Vardy completed their hat-tricks after the break.

February 2021: Manchester United - Southampton 9-0

Southampton had a man sent off early on, and Manchester United scored nine goals, including one own goal by Jan Bednarek.

August 2022: Liverpool - Bournemouth 9-0

Luis Diaz and Roberto Firmino scored two goals each, with Harvey Elliott, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Fabio Carvalho also getting on the scoresheet.

November 2009: Tottenham - Wigan 9-1

Jermain Defoe scored five times, and Aaron Lennon, Peter Crouch, David Bentley, and Niko Kranjcar also found the target.