Chris Wilder defended Sheffield United’s discipline after they were reduced to nine men in a 1-0 defeat to Charlton, insisting the Blades are “not a dirty team” despite two straight red cards.
Sony Carey’s goal just a minute after half-time earned the Addicks all three points, but Wilder felt the game swung on the first-half dismissals of Djibril Soumare and Japhet Tanganga. Both were sent off by referee Oliver Langford, with Soumare punished for a high challenge on Harvey Knibbs and Tanganga dismissed for a forearm to Carey during an aerial duel.
Wilder argued the decisions were harsh and lacked consistency.
“This is not an ill-disciplined club,” he said. “There was a mistimed tackle and a mistimed header. Sam McCallum is getting stitches in his ankle and the assistant referee was right in front of it and shrugged his shoulders.
“We should also have had a penalty. Patrick Bamford shows brilliant centre-forward play, he’s in the box and about to pull the trigger.”
Knibbs was stretchered off after Soumare’s challenge but later returned wearing a protective boot. Wilder felt an earlier foul by Knibbs on McCallum, which went unpunished, was comparable to the incident that led to the red card.
Despite the adversity, the Sheffield United boss praised his side’s performance.
“I’ve had some big highs in football, but the way my team played in the first half is right up there. We never let them breathe. My only criticism is that we weren’t clinical enough – we should have been three or four up at half-time.
“Of course it’s easier to play against nine men, but my players fought for every minute. This team is a completely different animal to when I took over.”
Wilder confirmed the club will appeal Tanganga’s dismissal, adding: “Everyone will slow the incident down. One hundred per cent we’ll appeal the second one. He couldn’t wait to get the red card out.”
Charlton manager Nathan Jones admitted the win felt unusual despite ending a four-game winless run.
“It was a bizarre win,” he said. “It didn’t feel like the euphoria you expect when you beat Sheffield United at home. They started brilliantly and our goalkeeper kept us in it.
“When they went down to 10, then nine, we gained more control. We made the right changes, scored the goal and had other chances.”
Jones added: “Two years ago this club was losing to Northampton. Now we’re in the Championship, level on points with Sheffield United and above West Brom. Ask any Charlton fan if they’d have taken that.”
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