Brighton easily won 5-0 at Bramall Lane after Sheffield United defender Mason Holgate was sent off in the 13th minute for a horrific tackle.
After a VAR check revealed that Holgate had pushed in knee-high on Brighton’s Kauro Mitoma, the visitors added additional misery for Chris Wilder’s club, who became the first in top-division history to concede five goals or more in three straight home games.
Ben Osborn’s goal for the Blades was disallowed for offside just before halftime, but Facundo Buonanotte pushed in the first goal at a corner and Danny Welbeck hammered in the second four minutes later.
After dominating the second half, Brighton eventually repeated their quickfire double when Simon Adingra stroked in their fourth goal two minutes after Jack Robinson turned the ball into his own net.
With Adingra’s late deflected attempt into the bottom corner, Brighton scored their fifth goal and Sheffield United conceded 65 goals this season—the most in Premier League history after 25 games—moving Brighton up to seventh place and seven points from safety.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder said :
“I’ve got no arguments with the sending off. Excessive force and everything. Some of the older players will be shaking their heads on that but the game has moved on. We understand the game now as it is and not as it was. He gave a yellow card straight away, he thought it was yellow, and went to the monitor and I’ve got no complaints about that.
“We’ve got to be competitive, aggressive, strong in duels and challenges and tackles but we have to make sure we get it right and timings right. Obviously, Mason didn’t get that timing right.”
In his post-match press conference, Wilder added: “[Holgate] has apologised to the boys. He understands it, he’s an experienced pro. He’s got it wrong.”
Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi said:
“We are very happy for the result. Obviously, the red card for Sheffield United changed the game. We have to be honest when they concede a red card and we have a player more it is [easier] because [otherwise] the game would be very tough.
“When we are dominating the game we have more intention and more focus not to concede a counter-attack. Because we play with our style, and our style is to try to dominate the game. Different teams play on the counter-attack and they want to play without the ball.
“We have to be more focused on the safe passes, short passes, shorter passes and to stay many players close to the ball because when we lose the ball we have to react, and not concede.”
Sheffield travel to Wolves next on Sunday while Brighton host Everton on Saturday.
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