Sheffield United boss slams referee over Man Utd penalty & free-kick | Football

The Blades took a shock lead at Old Trafford on Wednesday night when Jayden Bogle capitalised on a calamitous error from Andre Onana.

Their lead wouldn’t last long however with Harry Maguire heading in following a set-piece situation just before half-time, but Wilder was perplexed at why a free-kick was given in the first place.

Referee Michael Salisbury gave the free-kick when Mason Holgate tripped Alejandro Garnacho just outside the box, with the defender also booked for the foul.

‘I’ve got to say, I’m really disappointed with a couple of the decisions as well,’ Sheffield Utd boss Wilder told BBC Match of the Day.

‘I think the free-kick, I don’t know what my centre-half is supposed to do, just walk out the way? He’s nutmegged him, but he can’t disappear.

‘That said, we’ve not really defended that situation as well as we should have done.’

Sheffield Utd retook the lead in the second-half through Ben Brereton Diaz, before the Red Devils equalised again thanks to a Bruno Fernandes penalty which was given after Maguire was brought down in the box by Auston Trusty.

Interestingly, the home side were also annoyed at the decision initially as Salisbury blew straight away for the spot-kick, just a second before the ball was flicked into the back of the net by Diogo Dalot.

‘I think he’s blown early on the penalty. I think it’s a really soft penalty if I’m honest about it,’ Wilder added.

‘There is always contact in the box. It’s a really soft one.

‘Now, you might say they scored. But that’s got nothing to do with us. He gave a penalty straight away.’

Late goals from Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund got Erik ten Hag’s side over the line and the result has put them in good stead to qualify for Europe.

Meanwhile, the Blades stay bottom of the Premier League and 10 points from safety with just four games to go, meaning relegation will likely be confirmed this weekend.

Moreover, Wilder’s side have now shipped 93 goals this season, breaking the record for the most goals conceded in a 38-game Premier League campaign which was previously held by the infamous Derby County side of 2007/08 (89 goals).

The overall record still belongs to Swindon Town who conceded 100 times in the 42-game 1993/94 season, but with four games to go Sheffield Utd could well break that too.

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