Mason Holgate was sent off for a horror challenge as Sheffield United endured another miserable Bramall Lane outing on Sunday, losing 5-0 to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Holgate caught the knee of Kaoru Mitoma with a senseless lunge early on, and his team were swiftly punished as Facundo Buonanotte and Danny Welbeck scored within four first-half minutes.
The 10 men of Sheffield United avoided further damage until the 75th minute, but Brighton added three more goals in a late flurry as Jack Robinson’s own goal was followed up by a brace from Simon Adingra.
Chris Wilder’s side have now conceded five goals in three successive home games and look destined for an immediate return to the Championship, while free-scoring Brighton have jumped above Newcastle United and West Ham to go seventh in the Premier League table.
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Sheffield United started brightly as Jayden Bogle’s low drive was kept out by Bart Verbruggen, but they were given a mountain to climb after 13 minutes, as a VAR review saw Holgate shown a deserved red card for his awful tackle on Mitoma.
Sheff Utd are down to ten men… ????
Mason Holgate is given his marching orders after a tackle on Kaoru Mitoma!#SHUBHA pic.twitter.com/kgyBEgRt3k
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 18, 2024
Brighton went ahead seven minutes later as William Osula failed to clear Buonanotte’s finish off the line, and the Seagulls needed just four further minutes to make it 2-0, Welbeck firing home after Wes Foderingham denied Mitoma at his near post.
The Blades thought they had one back on the stroke of half-time as Ben Osborn converted from close range, but another VAR check saw him ruled offside after the ball deflected to him off Buonanotte.
Sheffield United then showed some resistance and kept Brighton out until the 75th minute, but the floodgates opened again after Robinson poked Mitoma’s teasing cross into his own net.
A fourth goal arrived just three minutes later, with Africa Cup of Nations winner Adingra volleying Pascal Gross’ cross home at the near post, and the Ivorian had his brace with five minutes to play, his angled effort taking a huge deflection before looping over Foderingham and in.
It’s FIVE for Brighton!
After a Jack Robinson own goal, Simon Adingra’s quick double adds to the Seagulls’ lead ???? #SHUBHA pic.twitter.com/zJjH4YFAQF
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 18, 2024
