fbpx
Connect with us

Bristol City

Bristol City v Sheffield United descends into heated scenes after reckless challenge

Bristol City v Sheffield United descends into heated scenes after a reckless challenge by George Tanner on James McAtee on Tuesday night.

Nigel Pearson’s side were left increasingly frustrated in the sixth minute of added time as the Blades moved towards victory in the Championship match at Ashton Gate.

Iliman Ndiaye scored the only goal of the game, a 49th minute header, to seal victory for the Blades.

City defenders Zak Vyner and George Tanner both went for a high ball into the box, leaving Ndiaye unmarked to head home when the ball glanced off Vyner’s head.

City also hit the woodwork twice and wasted a number of dangerous crosses in a match they edged for much of the time.

Oliver Norwood saw a shot go wide on the break for the away side as rain poured down – but it was Bristol City doing much of the pressing and Weimann’s 86th-minute shot aimed straight at Foderingham as the night ended in frustration for the home side.

Anger boiled over when Tanner’s late tackle, which by some has been described as horrific, sent McAtee flying, a dangerous late lunge which left the Sheffield United man down on the ground.

McAtee’s teammates were angered by Tanner’s actions as both sets of players embroiled themselves in an angry altercation.

Bristol City boss Pearson admitted after the match that it was the correct decision to send Tanner off, he also claimed the game was already out of control.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “What I said when I came off the pitch I don’t like it when the officials don’t give us true information in how long there is in the game.

“The sending-off is a red card there is no doubt about that but I would suggest also that in the lead-up to that the control in the game was lost.

“They wasted time very well, congratulations to them for doing that.

“I would be happy if my team was able to sort of run the clock down in that way too.”

Pearson added: “We’ve not taken our chances and have conceded a poor goal, which is the story of our season. The sending-off was a rash challenge and clear-cut. But the worst we should have got was a goalless draw. I can’t fault the effort of the players and their commitment. But we continually outplay teams without winning and there are reasons for that. We don’t have defenders that are reliable at the moment and, with no money to spend, we just have to keep working hard to improve.

“Until we have players who are efficient so you don’t even notice them, we will continue to be the sort of side we are. The first half was one in which both sides seemed to want to give the ball away. They didn’t want it and when we had it we didn’t appear to want it as much as we should have. In the end, there were chances we should have converted. I think there was an element of offside about their goal, but it was still a bad one to concede.”

Sheffield United’s Paul Heckingbottom: “This was my worst win since I took charge. When we have won before, it has been deserved. It was not a performance that will bring us many more victories. Bristol were better than us in loads of departments and I feel for Nigel Pearson. We had to rely on experience, a winning mentality and strong defending. The
three points were everything.

“I’m not sure how many red cards the challenge at the end was worth. But I think James McAtee’s speed played a part and I don’t believe there was any intent to hurt our player. All the players worked hard and we defended our box particularly well in the second half. But I’m not going to be smug about it. I got the shape of the team wrong to start with and had to make a change in the first half. Taking off Reda Khadra was no reflection on his performance.”

The result means Sheffield United climb up to third in the Championship, three points behind league leaders Burnley and just one off Blackburn in second.

Bristol City currently sit in 14th after a run of three games without a win and once again putting pressure on the manager.

The division is still incredibly tight after nearly three months of the season, with just nine points separating the play-off places from the relegation zone. Now doubt all to play following when it resumes after the World Cup.

Fans gave their reaction as Bristol City v Sheffield United descends into heated scenes after a reckless challenge…

@f1tzsy: Fair tackle in my books

@Joey_CFC: sent off for being a second late? Game’s gone

@YTAssasinPlayz: that would have been a red in the 60s pal

@Deanomorris08: Ffs game gone soft

@MKT1882: Never touched him 😉

@bcfcJoshhh: Got the ball ref

@Brown_Dog74: Sort of tackle that could end a promising young players career. Not pretty.

@BCAFCOK: Shocking tackle

@JmacLeeds: Why do players immediately go to the offending player rather than check to see if there team mate is ok, I’ve just never understood that mentality

@rogerefc: Bit harsh. That’s a strong yellow. A stronger yellow than the strong yellow Mitrovic got at the weekend but not as strong as the strong yellow Van Dijk received. Could you help clear the confusion regarding strong yellows please and release a chart @FA_PGMOL Thanks in advance 🤡

@Peter_Akers1: 96th minute and 1-0 down, and throwing in a tackle like that, what a cunt

@Bluemoonie4: With Pearson as their manager, this is no surprise

@milligan1310: Brilliant job by the ref here. Gets in, red out quickly… But… Players still take matters into their own hands and this won’t be spoken about. Yet if the ref hadn’t done his job properly there’d be plenty said about it! @refsupportuk @TheRefereeForum @SkySports

@liam_omeara: Tried to break his leg there, no question. What a scumbag

@Elliot2903: All the blokes in their 50’s in the replies saying the games gone after someone doing a double footed challenge nowhere near the ball got sent off 🤣

@RicardoMoniz7: Here come the “he’s a good lad” “he’s not that sort of guy” “he’s an honest young english lad” meanwhile if you snap someone’s leg in half their career is fucked, Eduardo da silva was never the same after his injury

@KevDublin: Lovely bit of argy bargy here

@gspurTHFC: First time seeing it back: fuck me

@MichaelHallfor3: No much in that 😳🙈

Related Topics
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

More in Bristol City