"It’s straight down the shin and on the ankle" - what former Manchester United striker and other pundits said about John Lundstram's red card and Sheffield United's draw at Brighton

It had looked like the battling Blades, who played with 10 men for almost an hour after John Lundstram was sent off, were set to secure a much-needed win after taking the lead through Jayden Bogle in the 63rd minute.

But they were cruelly thwarted by Welbeck’s 87th minute leveller, which leaves Chris Wilder’s side still without a win from their opening 14 games with just two points to their name.

They are now eight points adrift of safety at the bottom of the Premier League but, speaking after the game at the Amex, the United boss was full of praise for his side.

"We tried to be positive,” Wilder said. “We tried to establish a foothold and I thought we were able to do that, as well as showing real character and desire at the end when we needed to.”

But what did the pundits make of United’s draw on the south coast?

Let’s take a look.

Roy Keane, former Manchester United midfielder and Sky Sports studio guest

Speaking about Oliver Burke missing a gilt-edged opportunity to put the Blades 2-0 up shortly before the home side’s equaliser, he said: “Big moment in their season, Burke here has got to hit the target. He’s stretching, he’s falling over, he’s got to have composure.

"I know he’s had a difficult time over the last couple of years, but you hit the target and it’s game over. What a boost that would’ve been for Sheffield United.”

Andy Cole, ex-Manchester United striker and guest on talkSPORT’s Sunday Session with Sam Matterface

"Considering the way they lost to Manchester United in midweek, I think today was a massive point because ultimately you’ve got to try to pick up points against the teams around yourself.

"No doubt Chris Wilder will be very disappointed they didn’t win the game but a point away from home is a good start.”

Perry Groves, former Arsenal striker and guest on talkSPORT’s Sunday Session with Sam Matterface

“They’re probably a victim of their own success. The meteoric rise they’ve had from when Chris Wilder took over when they were bottom of League One (in 2016) to setting the Premier League alight last season with their under-lapping and over-lapping centre halves, but we’ve said before it’s just the (lack of) goals.

"We’ve seen them two or three times on a Sunday where they can’t finish off moves and I think McBurnie is still their leading goalscorer with seven, and that’s from the beginning of last season.

"I think with Chris Wilder he deserves to be backed and he deserves so for what he’s done for that football club if they do get relegated, like Sean Dyche when Burnley went down and they stayed with him and came back up.

"I think even with Sheffield United fans it’s the realism of where you are and your expectations.”

Sue Smith, former England forward and guest on Sky Sports’ The Football Show

"It’s going to be so difficult for them to get out of it. It just looked like they were going to get all three points and they just couldn’t see the game out.

"I suppose you’ve got to praise the players, they were down to 10 men for 50 minutes and there’s been lots of games where I’ve watched them this season that they have been so unlucky but they just desperately need those points.

"They’ve been unlucky with injuries – missing Jack O’Connell has been huge for them from a defensive perspective but also for that building up of play from the back – and now they have another injury with Sander Berge.

"If he’s out for a while it's just another player that they’ve lost, so it’s been unlucky for them this season.

"I think they’ve got to take heart from that point (against Brighton). The three points would have been fantastic, but they can sort of start building again from that.”

Stephen Warnock, ex-Liverpool defender and guest on Sky Sports’ The Football Show

“I think the points tally they’ve got to make up now is far too great. They don’t have many goals within the team, they’re also leaking goals as well, so for me I think they’re down if I’m being completely honest and brutal about it.

"But they need to stick with Chris Wilder. He’s brought players in that are more than capable of getting them back out of the (Championship) next season, but hopefully they go on to prove me wrong and they manage to stay within the league.”

Dion Dublin, former Manchester United forward and Match of the Day pundit

Speaking about Lundstram’s red card, he said: “As a player, I can see straight away that’s a red card. Back in the day, yes that’s fine. Crack on, no problem at all.

"But you cannot do that now. It’s straight down the shin and on the ankle. I’ve broken my leg right there and I know what it’s like.

"Yes, that was endangering the safety of an opponent. He launched himself in my opinion.”

Micah Richards, ex-Manchester City defender and Match of the Day pundit

"Fair play to Sheffield United, I thought they defended in numbers and they full deserved it. They probably think they deserved more out of the game.”

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