Brighton Boss Roberto De Zerbi declared “I don’t like 80% of English referees” following Brighton’s lack-lustre 1-1 draw to Sheffield United in which Seagulls’ midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud saw red.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Brighton Manager’s frustration was clear, he was booked for his poor behaviour towards fourth official Andrew Madley. When asked about his opinions on the red card, De Zerbi said: “This isn’t a new opinion. I don’t like them (English referees). I don’t like their behaviour on the pitch”. The Italian made sure to be clear that he did not disagree with the decision to give a red card: “If I see the new rules, it is a red card, clear. I’m not angry with him (Dahoud); I think he has the right experience to not make these mistakes, but it can happen in football.”
Embed from Getty ImagesSimon Adingra’s early goal seemed to set the tone for the game, and throughout the first half Brighton should have probably scored a few more to put the clash to bed.
However, the momentum swung in the Blades’ favour when Dahoud was shown a straight red card for stamping on Sheffield United substitute Ben Osborn.
Soon after the red card, the visitors made sure to exploit their extra man advantage, as Jayden Bogle crossed the ball close to the mouth of the goal and Adam Webster attempted to clear it, unfortunately knocking it into his own net.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Seagulls are now winless in their last six premier league games, and have become the first team to fail to beat Sheffield United at home this season.
The draw means that Brighton remain eighth in the Premier League, while the Blades are not bottom of the table for the first time since September.
This match was the first time that United had gone two games without defeat in the Premier League since July 2020. Manager Paul Heckingbottom claimed his focus isn’t on the fact that this is United’s first away point of the season. He said: “It is irrelevant – maybe not being bottom is important because people keep bringing it up, but I’m not bothered yet. What is pleasing is how we’ve played.”
Embed from Getty ImagesHeckingbottom didn’t want to make excuses for why the Blades had not picked up more than five points in the league; he looked positively at improvements his team has made in the last two outings: “There have been moments in every game but in the last two games it has been us being the stronger team at the end and that is what I like to see.”
The Blades fought well to earn an excellent point on the south coast.
