THE NOTEBOOK: This is not the first time that Mason Holgate has been sent off for a reckless challenge… while Simon Adingra returns to the starting XI and scoresheet after AFCON victory

It is not the first time Mason Holgate has been sent off for a reckless challenge. Holgate is the only player to have been shown a red card in each of the last three Premier League seasons.

In 2021 he was red carded for Everton after a similar high challenge on Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and was booked twice against Crystal Palace last season.

On Sky Sports, Jamie Redknapp said his wild challenge on Kaoru Mitoma was one of the worst tackles he had seen in years and while some fans inexcusably clapped Holgate away, one supporter got out of his seat outside the press box to express his feelings towards the 27 year old are clear.

SHFFIELD UNITED FIGHTS FOR CONSISTENCY

You have to go back to July 2020 for the last time Sheffield United won two Premier League games in a row and after the win at Luton last week, this was a chance to go back-to-back.

But any real hope of ending that run lasted just 13 minutes, with the fastest send-off of the season meaning the Blades gameplan had to go out the window. Over their last two seasons in the Premier League (including 2020-2021), they have won just 10 of their 63 games.

No wonder there were many empty seats at Bramall Lane for this game, with United now conceding five goals for the third home game in a row. A cool watch to say the least. Doesn’t matter with one less man.

SIMON ADINGRA BACK IN THE STARTEXI AND ON THE SCORESHEET

Simon Adingra was immediately back in Brighton’s starting XI after winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.

The 22-year-old was man-of-the-match in the final against Nigeria in Abidjan last week with two assists and after being given a guard of honor at the Amex Stadium earlier this week, the winger enjoyed a field day here. he capped his afternoon in Yorkshire with two late goals.

TRAINS CAUSE CHAOS FOR FANS AGAIN

Once again Britain’s rail network and TV programming let football fans down as hundreds of Brighton fans were forced to miss their train to Sheffield from London St Pancras despite arriving on time.

With an unusual queuing system in place due to reduced services, East Midlands Railway closed the doors on the 9:30 am service well in advance of departure and for those attempting to board the 10:30 am service, the train was full and closed at 9:45 am. .

Ticket holders were then advised to board the next train, which arrived in Sheffield at 2.30pm. By then, Brighton were two goals ahead.

SHEFFIELD UNITED NEEDS MORE THAN JUST ‘COLLABORATION’

In his program notes, Chris Wilder spoke about struggle and the non-negotiables he wanted from his side. And in every respect it is a team that gets along well. “The other day I drove up Ecclesall Road and went into Costa Coffee and there were about 10 or 11 guys sitting in the corner having coffee together,” Wilder said.

‘For me that’s great. “If they are together as a group off the field, you are more likely to have them together on the field,” Wilder added.

To be fair, they fought well after the red card, but they never really stood a chance against a quality Brighton team who had 80 percent of the ball.

The Blades have now conceded 65 goals in the Premier League this season – the most ever against a single side in their first 25 games, and they will need a lot more than togetherness off the pitch if they are to even have a chance of making it in to reach the top. mother of all escapes. At this point, relegation seems inevitable.