What Chris Wilder made of Phil Jagielka's controversial red card in Sheffield United's victory over Aston Villa

Jagielka was initially booked after fouling Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi, but the decision was upgraded to a red after referee Robert Jones was advised to review the incident on his pitchside monitor.

Replays suggested that Kean Bryan may have got enough to snuff out an obvious goalscoring opportunity, and Jones surely could not be certain that he would not have.

The Blades were 1-0 ahead at the time and saw out the remaining time without conceding to seal victory, only their fourth of the campaign.

And Wilder said of the red card decision: “It was a long way out.

Harshly sent off, Grew into the game - Sheffield United player ratings from 1-0 win over Aston Villa

“I thought Kean was close enough and we had retrieving players to get back round the ball.

“As I’ve said consistently, some of the decisions, not just for us, are head scratching.

“I don’t know what the pundits are saying, I’ve had my view and then a quick 20 seconds on it, but I think it’s quite harsh.”

Skipper David McGoldrick was the hero for the Blades, finishing off a first-half move that he started with a neat turn and crossfield pass to George Baldock.

United then put their bodies on the line to keep Villa out, with the likes of Ethan Ampadu, John Fleck and Ollie Norwood particularly impressive in the rearguard action.

“It’s everything you want from a big performance,” Wilder added.

Sheffield United 1 Aston Villa 0 LIVE: Reaction from Chris Wilder and Dean Smith after win for ten-man Blades

“We’ve defended poorly at times this year but you saw some top drawer defending tonight, especially when we went down to 10 on the back of a poor decision for me.

“I don’t think Aston Villa can complain about some of the decisions against us, but we kept the ball out of the back of the net.

“There’s a lot of talk about stricture and shape but sometimes there’s just an incredible desire to keep the ball out of the net, and that’s what we did.”

Jagielka’s red card, and subsequent suspension, means another defensive headache for Wilder this weekend when his side face Southampton, with centre-halves Chris Basham, John Egan and Jack O’Connell already out.

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