The Blades returned from the Amex with a share of the spoils after a 1-1 draw against Brighton
Roberto De Zerbi felt there was ‘only one team on the pitch’ until a second-half red card changed the game. Mahmoud Dahoud saw red after a stamp on Ben Osborn 21 minutes from time.
It gave the visitors the encouragement they needed to find a way back into the game after trailing to Simon Adingra’s sixth-minute strike. The visitors were grateful to Wes Foderingham for keeping them in the game but once Dahoud was given his marching orders Sheffield United jumped on the chance and duly worked their way back.
Auston Trusty and Gustavo Hamer combined to slip in Jayden Bogle five minutes later and his drilled cross was turned home by Adam Webster. The visitors continued to push and Bogle had another chance to win it but dragged his effort wide.
In the end, it was a great point for United to head into the international break with and it moved them off the bottom of the table. Manager Paul Heckingbottom praised his players for their character and composure, while his opposite number De Zerbi felt the game should have been out of sight and was unhappy with how his side lost their way following the sending-off.
He said: “There wasn’t a game until the red card, only one team on the pitch. Brighton could win the game two, three nil.
“After the red card, the game changed. But 11 v 11, there was only one team on the pitch and we played a great game. We have to analyse that game. After the red card we can say other things but the situation with one player less, we lost order and we lost our style
“They [Sheffield United] played well but until the red card, I think we played very well and deserved to win with more goals. After the red card, it is another game.”
