Why Sheffield United didn't appeal Phil Jagielka's controversial red card against Aston Villa

Jagielka’s initial yellow card against Villa, for bringing down Anwar El Ghazi midway into the Blades half, was upgraded to a red card when referee Robert Jones was advised to review the incident on his pitchside monitor.

United felt that Kean Bryan, Jagielka’s teammate, may have got across to challenge El Ghazi, meaning that the situation wasn’t the denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity. Either way, Jones could not have known for certain that Bryan wouldn’t have been able to put in a challenge on the Villa man.

Wilder was understandably disappointed in the decision after the game, which United went on to 1-0, while his opposite number Dean Smith admitted that it could have gone either way.

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The result is that Jagielka misses out against Southampton tomorrow – leaving United with only two fit, senior centre-halves in Bryan and Ethan Ampadu - and when asked if United had considered an appeal, Wilder admitted: “We did, when we looked through the night and the morning.

“But we took advice on it, there was a difference of opinion but were told on a technicality that on the three things that they consider, overturning a decision has to be an unbelievable clear and obvious mistake.

“I didn’t think it was a red but they thought it was, and it [appealing] was pointless from our point of view. We have to accept that decision.”

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