A miserable night for Chris Wilder was compounded by an embarrassing incident – with the Sheffield United boss sent off for kicking the ball into the crowd and hitting a fan.
The Blades, who lost the game against Southampton 2-1 at Bramall Lane on Tuesday night, had to make do without their manager on the sideline for the second half.
As he was walking towards the tunnel for the interval, Wilder booted a loose ball in anger as it bounced towards him.
It flew into the crowd and connected with an elderly man near the front row of seats.
Wilder immediately looked over and saw what he’d done. The 58-year-old went straight over to the fan and apologised.
Sky Sports footage showed Wilder shaking the man’s hand and apologising and Sky Sports News, presenter Julian Warren said: ‘They’re walking off and Wilder sees a ball and puts his left boot through it.
Chris Wilder booted the ball into the crowd and it connected with a Sheffield United fan
The fan took it in good humour as Wilder immediately made his way over to apologise
‘The problem was, he puts his hands up as he acknowledges that in kicking it, he kicks it into the crowd and it hits one of the home fans.
‘Straight to the gentlemen in question, he apologises and the fan in fairness has a smile on his face.’
The referee Adam Herczeg sent Wilder off and footage showed the manager looking incredulously at the official.
The incident was even more bizarre in that Sheffield United were leading at half-time and Southampton’s Adam Armstrong had just missed a penalty.
In the second half it went from bad to worse for Wilder, who returned to the club this month for his third spell in charge.
Southampton fought back as Will Still’s visitors equalised in the 51st minute through Ross Stewart before the same man netted his second seven minutes later.
That brace was enough to consign Sheffield United to defeat and they remain rooted to the foot of the Championship with just three points on the board.
The Blades have suffered seven defeats in their first eight games and Wilder will be looking to turn the tide quickly.
