Chris Wilder left scratching his head after "two major decisions" went against Sheffield United at Aston Villa

Chris Wilder, the Sheffield United manager, was left scratching his head after what he feels were two major decisions went against his team in tonight's defeat at Aston Villa.
Chris Wilder felt Matt Targett should have seen red for this challenge on Chris Basham. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Chris Wilder felt Matt Targett should have seen red for this challenge on Chris Basham. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Chris Wilder felt Matt Targett should have seen red for this challenge on Chris Basham. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Ezri Konsa scored the only goal of the game in the second half, heading home after a Villa corner was headed on by Tyrone Mings.

But by that point, United were down to 10 men and missed a penalty of their own before half-time. First, John Egan saw red after tangling with Ollie Watkins as the pair chased a long ball over the top, before Matt Targett fouled Chris Basham and gave away a penalty.

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John Lundstram couldn't take advantage, seeing his spot-kick saved by Emi Martinez, and Wilder was left baffled that the defender was not sent off.

"I thought that if Targett made an attempt for the ball then it's possibly not a red card, but he doesn't. Because the ball is too far away.

"There's no way in a million years he can make a tackle. Basham did well to put himself between the man and the ball, and it's a red card from my point of view.

"Even if we miss the penalty, it's still 10 v 10. So it had a huge effect on the game."

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Wilder waited to speak to Scott after the game, "for clarification a couple of bits" and felt that Scott should have consulted with his assistant referee over the Egan red card, as he was standing a few yards from the incident.

"It's difficult to be 100 per cent certain from Graham's position that both players weren't grappling for the ball," Wilder added.

"They were grabbing each other. The assistant referee had the best position in the place.

"Then the decision goes somewhere else and I'm not sure what happens then, to be honest.

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"I don't understand why there wasn't dialogue with the assistant. His reaction was a giveaway.

"If I've got this wrong I'll apologise to everyone but I've been in the game for a while and I'm not one for deflecting from my team's performance. I don't think the correct decisions have been given.

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