Chris Wilder and Birmingham City boss clash over Sheffield United decision that turned tide of stalemate
Chris Wilder and Birmingham City boss clash over Sheffield United decision that turned tide of stalemate
The managers of Sheffield United and Birmingham City predictably disagreed on one of the main flashpoints of this afternoon’s clash at St. Andrew’s, as the two sides played out an entertaining 1-1 draw. The game threatened to turn in the 23rd minute when Femi Seriki was sent off.
The United right-back had undoubtedly fouled Ibrahim Osman as he looked to race away on goal but the debate was whether he was the ‘last man’ and had denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
The presence of Tyler Bindon as the covering defender, and the ball rolling through to goalkeeper Adam Davies, suggested that he wasn’t and hadn’t. But referee Tim Robinson disagreed, brandishing the red card that the home crowd and players were demanding.
To make matters worse for United, Marvin Ducksch stepped up to curl his side ahead from the resulting free-kick and the Blades could easily have gone under. But they rallied, winning and then missing a first-half penalty before Patrick Bamford levelled on the stroke of half-time.
Chris Wilder and Birmingham City boss clash over Sheffield United decision that turned tide of stalemate
Chris Davies, Chris Wilder’s opposite number in the home dugout, predictably described the Seriki red card as without doubt the right decision but Wilder disagreed. “We created some good opportunities and some good moments,” he said, “and then there was obviously decision number one.
“I can't believe, for the life of me, that it was so in that grey area that they can just make that decision. It’s so grey, and really it’s not even grey because it's more towards us. Tyler Bindon's there, round on the cover.
“The pace on the ball goes through to Adam Davis and it goes through to his left hand side. The boys never getting there and Tyler Bindon's two yards away on the time of the tackle. Then they go over and talk to the linesman and they come to a decision.
“The referee's not clear on it, linesman's clear on it. He’s two or three yards off of it and then there’s the double whammy of an unbelievable free kick going in the top corner. So I should imagine everybody, maybe some of our supporters, were going: ‘Oh, here we go.’ But I thought the reaction to that was first class.”
United were then handed the chance to level when former Blade Jack Robinson inexplicably handled the ball after it was thrown to him by goalkeeper James Beadle. After a delay while Robinson spoke to his other assistant the penalty was given, but Sydie Peck’s tame effort was palmed away by Beadle.
“I've got to say, I didn't see the sort of detail to it,” said Wilder of the bizarre incident. “But I just saw the reaction of our players. I don't think there was a lot of argument from the opposition bench or the opposition players as well.”