Sheffield United were relegated from the Premier League after a 5-1 humbling at Newcastle on Saturday.
Chris Wilder’s side are 10 points from safety with just three games left following their 25th league defeat of a dismal season.
The basement club, who have only three league wins, will return to the Championship just 12 months after winning promotion.
Anel Ahmedhodzic put the visitors ahead at St James’ Park, but Alexander Isak struck twice, Bruno Guimaraes and Callum Wilson each netted and Ben Osborn scored an own goal.
It was the Blades’ fourth successive defeat, leaving them without a win in their past 11 games.
Wilder’s men have conceded 13 goals in their past three matches, underlining their struggles in season that has appeared destined to end in relegation for months.
They have set a new record for the most goals conceded in a 38-game Premier League season, letting in 97 in 35 games so far.
An 8-0 home defeat against Newcastle in September underlined the depth of the task Sheffield United faced in adapting to life in the top tier.
So it was fitting that Newcastle also delivered the final nail in their relegation coffin.
Wilder had already conceded relegation was inevitable after their midweek loss at Manchester United and his fears were confirmed in brutal fashion on Tyneside.
The Bramall Lane outfit have avoided the ignominy of the lowest points tally in Premier League history, which stands at 11, set by Derby in 2007/08.