Derby dismay as ex-Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips sees red in Sheffield United v Sheffield Wednesday battle
An ex-Leeds United star has seen red in the Steel City derby.
Former Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips has experienced derby dismay, the midfielder sent off in Sunday’s Championship showdown against Sheffield Wednesday at Bramall Lane.
Phillips and fellow former Whites ace Patrick Bamford were both handed starts by Blades boss Chris Wilder who saw Bamford fire his men ahead through a neat finish with just two minutes on the clock.
Harrison Burrows then doubled the Blades advantage with a rising finish from the edge of the box 17 minutes later and Wilder’s men took a 2-0 lead into the break.
Phillips, though, then followed through on Wednesday’s Svante Ingelsson in a firm challenge four minutes after the interval and referee Gavin Ward took a dim view of the tackle as he handed the midfielder a straight red card.
Phillips was clearly dismayed, the midfielder voicing “how is that a red?” but the 30-year-old’s afternoon was up and the Owls - whose side featured another ex-Leeds ace in Liam Cooper - then pulled a goal back four minutes later through Charlie McNeil.
Wednesday, though, could not fore a leveller and the visitors were reduced to ten men themselves in the 90th minute as Gabriel Otegbayo was also shown a straight red card.
The Blades then pushed for a third goal, Wilder’s side only denied by the brilliance of Owls stopper Seny Dieng in goal but the hosts had done enough to seal a 2-1 victory which officially condemned the Owls to their inevitable relegation to League One.
Victory for the Blades, meanwhile, sent then 14th and six points off the play-off places.