‘I am torn’ – Chris Wilder’s surprise response to horror tackle on Brighton ace Kaoru Mitoma
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder revealed Mason Holgate apologised to his team-mates after his red card in the 5-0 home defeat to Brighton.
Holgate was sent off in the 13th minute for a reckless thigh-high challenge on Kaoru Mitoma, with the VAR advising referee Stuart Attwell to upgrade an initial yellow card to red.
The Blades were put to the sword in the remaining 77 minutes as goals from Facundo Buonanotte and Danny Welbeck, Simon Adingra’s double and a Jack Robinson own goal gave the Seagulls their second victory at Bramall Lane in three weeks after a 5-2 fourth-round FA Cup romp last month.
Things might have been different had Holgate, who looks set to be fined by the club, kept his cool and Wilder says the defender knows he “got it wrong”
“He has apologised to the boys, he understands it and he is an experienced pro,” Wilder, whose side conceded five goals at home for the third successive game, said.
“He has got it wrong, I want us to be competitive, I want us to win tackles, we can’t have a passive game.
“We need to make sure Mason understands that this is a competitive game and not a non-contact game.” In terms of how we approach the game as a whole, it is a major setback for us.
“I know it was a really tough challenge and the game has moved on, but I am torn because I am a competitor.
Some players won’t want the game to progress and will demand excessive force, physical contact, or whatever you want to call it.
Better managers than me—quite a few of them, I should imagine—and larger, more accomplished teams than Sheffield United would have had a hard time falling to 10 because of the way they play.
“That’s how the game was decided, and I’m positive we wouldn’t have lost 5-0.”
For the second time in three weeks, the Seagulls took advantage of Holgate’s lack of discipline by making hay at Bramall Lane.
Although they maintained their sixth-place lead over Manchester United, manager Roberto De Zerbi would have preferred to have played an 11-versus-11 game.
“Especially in the first half, we played very well. It was very difficult to find the right moment to shoot and score,” the Italian stated.
“The first half was a very good performance. I sincerely apologise for the red card. I would like to play 11 vs. 11, and playing with more players is not always an advantage.
“Especially if the opposition has the same traits as Sheffield United, as you may find it more challenging to score.”
“They defended the final 25 metres with nine players behind the ball in the second half of the first half.”
