Sheffield United ’s Championship clash with Blackpool descended into chaotic scenes on Saturday with four players being sent off in the final 20 minutes of action.
The sides were facing off at Bramall Lane with the Blades aiming to emphasise their promotion credentials, while the visitors were looking to move away from the drop zone. Sheffield Utd looked as though they were on the way to a straight-forward victory as James McAtee and Iliman Ndiaye put them in control with strikes in the first-half.
However, Blackpool staged a dramatic comeback as a brace from Jerry Yates and a further goal from Kenny Dougall put Michael Appleton’s men en-route to victory.
Things started to unravel as the game approached the 80th minute with Marvin Ekpiteta and Dom Thompson were both sent off within 180 seconds of each other - the pair each being given their marching orders for two bookable offences.
That gave the hosts ample opportunity to hit back and they did that in the eighth minute of added-on time as Oliver Norwood struck to secure a share of the spoils, sparing the blushes of Rhian Brewster who had missed a penalty in the final moments of normal time.
That is where the atmosphere inside Bramall Lane turned. Both sets of players got involved in a shocking melee after the final whistle with referee David Webb struggling to keep a lid on the unsavoury scenes.
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Sheffield Utd goalkeeper Wes Foderingham was shown a straight red card for the Blades, whilst Blackpool midfielder Shayne Lavery became the third player for the visitors to be given his marching orders.
Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Michael Dawson hit out at the unfolding chaos having watched the match for Sky Sports. He said: “It’s not the scenes you want to see at the end of a game. We know emotions over-run at times. Great game of football, we had absolutely everything in it. It was a Championship classic: goals, offsides. But that’s not what we want to see at the end.”
Blackpool boss Michael Appleton also had a say on the post-match scuffle and aimed a dig at the refereeing team.
Speaking after the full-time whistle at Bramall Lane, he said: “It’s easy saying people have to keep their control, but when it happens so quickly and so suddenly towards the end of the game, I felt I needed to have my say with the referee and I did have my say.
“I was disappointed because I thought they had a poor day today.”
The draw sees Sheffield United hold onto second spot in the Championship ahead of Norwich City’s clash with Watford on Saturday evening. Meanwhile, Blackpool remain in 19th having claimed 16 points from 14 matches so far this season.
