Sheffield United plunged into defensive crisis after awful defeat to Newcastle United with Man Utd up next
But with Jack O’Connell already battling to save his season after a training ground collision, the sight of fellow centre half John Egan being dismissed early in the second-half could prove even more damaging to United’s European aspirations than this result in the North-East.
With Egan now ruled-out of Wednesday’s visit to Manchester United, Chris Wilder faces the prospect of travelling to Old Trafford without two influential members of a defence which has been a driving force behind his team’s march into the upper reaches of the Premier League table since being promoted last term.
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Hide AdThe contest was still goalless when Egan, who had already been cautioned following a confrontation with Joelinton, received his second booking of the afternoon for hauling back the Brazilian as he darted towards United’s penalty area.
Steve Bruce’s men took full advantage of the opportunity the sending-off afforded them, with Allan Saint-Maximin opening the scoring following a mistake by Enda Stevens and Matt Ritchie, whose cross eluded the wing-back, powering home from distance.
An afternoon which had started in such promising fashion for United when key midfielder John Fleck returned from injury, went from bad to worse when Joelinton completed the scoring.
The result leaves Wilder’s men in seventh, and still without a win since football’s return to action following the Covid-19 pandemic last week.
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Hide AdDespite carrying a threat early on - Oliver Norwood troubling Newcastle’s defence with his delivery from set-pieces - this was an ultimately disappointing showing from a United side which appears to have been deeply affected by both the enforced three month break in competition and, with matches likely to be taking place behind closed doors for the foreseeable future, the absence of a crowd.
Billy Sharp should have equalised after Saint-Maximin’s opener but, after finding himself unmarked on the edge of the six yard box, headed George Baldock’s centre wide from close-range.