Blades boss cut up over Egan’s first yellow

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder was unhappy with the first of John Egan’s yellow cards after the defender was dismissed in the Blades’ biggest defeat of the season.

Newcastle’s Allan Saint-maximin scored only five minutes after the red card following an error by Enda Stevens, with Matt Ritchie doubling the lead and Joelinton scoring only his second league goal of the season to wrap things up.

Wilder questioned the decision to show Egan a yellow card in the first half following an altercation with Joelinton, the Brazil striker also being cautioned.

“I’m so glad that I’m not playing in today’s game if you’re getting booked for that,” said Wilder. “Just two boys going head to head. He obviously produced two yellow cards and it is easier for the centreforward than the centre-half.

“The second one, I have no complaints with. I’ve got to pick the players up, I didn’t like the feeling when we went two down.”

Magpies boss Steve Bruce agreed. “[The first yellow] was a little bit [of] handbags,” he said. “I don’t think either of them deserved a yellow card but I can understand how Chris must feel.”

Speaking about Joelinton, who had not scored in the league since August following his big-money move to Tyneside, Bruce was delighted the striker was back among the goals. “He has got to stay with it,” he added. “We know he has had a tough time, the whole thing about coming to England. He has been in lockdown on his own for months with no-one with him.

“He has still got a lot to do but a £40 million price tag [and being] Newcastle’s No 9 is a lot on him – it [the goal] is a boost.”