A game filled with spectacular moments and controversy, Sheffield United’s second home fixture after Chris Wilder’s return to the club was not a disappointing spectacle.
They hosted a Southampton side that was winless in the league, despite the Blades being winless at home themselves.
Referee Adam Herczeg awarded Southampton a penalty, disallowed Sheffield United’s late equaliser, sent Blades boss Wilder off after a comic moment, and frustrated players for supposedly not setting the Saints wall in the right position in a crucial set-piece situation.
But were the Sheffield United fans, who sang ‘you’re not fit to referee’ towards Herczeg, right to feel aggrieved?
A Penalty Decision
The first decision to go against the Blades was when Southampton striker and eventual man of the match Ross Stewart was brought down by goalkeeper Michael Cooper.
Stewart, signed by the Saints in 2023, latched onto a pinged pass from Ryan Manning before tapping it past the onrushing Cooper. The Blades keeper appeared to pull out of making any attempt for the ball, just as Stewart fell into his path.
It was a difficult one for the referee to call without VAR at his disposal in the Championship, but Adam Armstrong skied the penalty, to Bramall Lane’s delight. Sheffield United went in 1-0 up at half-time through a Tyrese Campbell strike.
Half Time Hoodoo
Wilder, seemingly infuriated by the refereeing decisions so far, took his anger out on a stray ball that rolled into his path at the end of the first half. The 58-year-old struck the ball, which hit a Blades fan in the Tony Currie South Stand.
Assistant manager Alan Knill explained the strange moment post-match in Wilder’s absence.
“It is frustration about a lot of the decisions,” Knill told BBC Radio Sheffield.
“Then when we are coming off the ball is there and he goes to kick it off the wall and hits it into the stands. He is disappointed and was the first to say sorry to wherever it landed.”
Despite Wilder’s immediate apology, his action counted as violent conduct, and Herczeg was right to dismiss him.
Further Frustrations
Late on in the second half, Saints gave away a free kick. Gustavo Hamer stepped up to take it, but shared his frustration with referee Herczeg that the wall was too close.
Even player O’Hare counted out the steps himself, in an attempt to prove to the referee that the wall was too close!
Assistant Knill furthered this frustration post-match: “Can someone tell me about the one where he does the wall? Where everybody counts eight steps, and he doesn’t move the wall. That was amazing, so it was one of those nights, I suppose.”
It is standard for players in a wall to be placed at least 10 yards away from where the free kick is being taken.
A Disallowed Equaliser
Perhaps the most controversial moment of the match came in the last minutes, when Tom Cannon was penalised for fouling Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, preventing him from saving Sydie Peck’s conversion.
Completely unaware that the referee’s whistle had long gone, Peck jubilantly kicked off the corner flag and jumped towards the celebrating Sheffield United fans.
Once the decision had become clear to Bramall Lane, frustration arose, and fans began launching abuse at the referee.
Southampton boss Will Still said: “I asked what happened, and the fourth official said he (Cannon) got his arms around Alex McCarthy, and he’s pretty big. I’m guessing that he must have kind of got hold of him, but I don’t know, I’ve not seen it.”
What Sheffield United’s Assistant Said
“There’s hardly any contact from Tom Cannon around the goalkeeper. I think he (McCarthy) misses it. I think he goes for the ball and misses it. Obviously, you see the ends of it. So, yeah, disappointed with some of the decisions.
I’m the last person who criticises, but I have to say that when everybody sees something, it’s so blatant, but they (the officials) don’t, then obviously it’s a cause for frustration.
But it is what it is. I’m going to say as well that this was a big game tonight. I didn’t think that he had the experience to manage this game. I thought it was a game bigger than him.
So why? Even though it’s not a top-of-the-table game, it’s two really big clubs in this division, so I think there could have been better, and he could have had more help. Let’s pause everything for a second. Could I get banned? Am I allowed to say this about the referee?
I think we just have to park it. We will look at the performance and take the referee out of it. Look at what we did really well and what we didn’t do so well.
I think it’s more important to analyse the team rather than the referee, because obviously, you do not influence that. The only thing you can influence is the team.”
Sheffield United have now lost all four matches at Bramall Lane this season, their worst start at home since 1954. They’ll be hoping for a change in fortunes soon, to lift them off the bottom of the Championship table.
