Brighton 1-1 Sheffield United: Blades come from behind to lift themselves off the bottom of the Premier League table, with 10-man hosts punished by Adam Webster’s own goal

Mahmoud Dahoud’s bloodstream left Brighton on their worst run under Roberto de Zerbi and helped lift Sheffield United off the foot of the table.

The Seagulls chased Simon Adingra’s early goal but shot themselves in the foot when Dahoud was sent off in the 69th minute.

Until then, the Blades were on course to lose for the tenth time in twelve games, something no team has done without being relegated.

But Dahoud’s dismissal – for a stamp on Ben Osborn – changed everything, and the visitors quickly leveled through an Adam Webster own goal to move off bottom for the first time since September 24.

De Zerbi angrily attacked the referees as he left the field. But his side are now winless in six Premier League games, the first time this has happened since he took over, and a run of poor form has been matched only by Luton.

The Brighton boss, whose side was booed by a small contingent of the 31,367 spectators, said: ‘The red card changed the game. I think so.

‘We are going through an unhappy period. We have to kill the game when we have the chance.

‘If we have to defend for twenty minutes in a match, we have to contend with more order and more energy.

‘When I see the new rules, it’s a red card, clearly. But I was a player and the dynamics of the situation are not a red card.

“Dahoud knows the mistake. Am I mad at him? No. He has the right experience not to make this mistake, but it can happen.

‘Why was I angry? I don’t like 80 percent of the referees in this country. I don’t like their behavior on the field.’

Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom said: ‘We showed a lot more composure as the game went on.

‘It was important that we stayed in the game. It’s our first point away. We’re off the bottom. But it’s a bit irrelevant.

‘We showed character and played well. Is it psychologically great to be off the bottom? I do not care. Not yet.

‘We could have had many more points. But this is the proof we need now: in the last two games we have taken points and it has been the other team that has held on.”

Brighton did not immediately seem to miss striker Evan Ferguson, who was ruled out before kick-off with a back injury.

They cut the Blades apart in the opening fifteen minutes and Adingra’s early opener was the result of brilliant build-up play.

The visitors were chasing shadows and Wes Foderingham quickly became a busy man in goal.

By half-time he had saved well from Ansu Fati and Billy Gilmour, while his team had failed to register a single shot on target.

Heckingbottom’s side did improve after the break, but it was still Brighton who continued to look more threatening.

Karou Mitoma forced Foderingham into another fine save, but the longer it stayed at 1-0, the more you felt some tension around the Amex given Brighton’s recent run.

And when Dahoud saw red for a moment of madness in the 69th minute, the home fans began to fear the worst.

Dahoud had no complaints. He completely lost his head and raked his studs down Osborn’s leg.

It seemed maliciously unnecessary and referee John Brookes didn’t hesitate long before sending him off.

Five minutes later United were level. Jayden Bogle received the ball from the left and provided a dangerous low cross.

With Cameron Archer lurking at the far post, Webster slid in to attempt to block but ultimately diverted the ball into his own net.

Suddenly it was anyone’s game. Brighton came close on one side, Bogle shot just wide on the other side.

But controversy arose in stoppage time when Carlos Baleba went down on the edge of the penalty area under a challenge from Luke Thomas.

Brighton wanted a pen. Brookes gave a free kick. VAR Chris Kavanagh checked it and backed his decision.

It was a close call as Thomas looked to hit the ball, but Blades defended the free kick and hung for a priceless point.

Bogle said, “We’ve had the mentality that if we fall behind, we stick together because you can always get back in the game.

“You have to have that hope, otherwise there is no point in competing and everyone in that locker room has hope.”