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<SPAN class=storyHeadline id=UcContentDisplay1_repContents__ctl0_lblContentT itle>Angry Blades boss shows ref a red card</SPAN><SPAN class=ContentDate id=UcContentDisplay1_repContents__ctl0_lblContentD ate>
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<DIV class=storyImage></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Outspoken Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock has called for referee Dermot Gallagher to hang up his whistle after his part in the 2-0 loss to Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Warnock was dismayed at Gallagher’s decision to send off Claude Davis for a foul on Andy Johnson in the 32nd minute.
The decision virtually handed Everton the points, though they made hard work of keeping them in the bag.
“I felt the referee blew too early, in fact he even blew before he had gone down,” Warnock said. “You can’t blame Johnson, but every time anybody went down they got a free kick.
“But if they stayed on their feet and tried to play the game they didn’t get a free kick. I’m disappointed in Dermot’s performance and I have said that to him.”
The destination of the points should never have been in doubt from the moment the Toffees scored their second goal and United were reduced to 10 men.
But the Blades, knowing they had nothing to lose, revelled in the freedom.
With more assured finishing, they would have embarrassed an increasingly anxious Everton.
Mikel Arteta’s headed goal and James Beattie’s penalty after the Davis’ dismissal should have rendered the remaining 57 minutes of the match a formality for Everton.
Instead, they stuttered nervously and United spurned a series of opportunities to put themselves back in contention.
Everton will gratefully take the win, their first in five games, but United, who acknowledge they must fight for salvation at this level, can draw belief from this performance. Warnock would have preferred to be fighting from only one goal down and with 11 men.
“I don’t blame Johnson for going down,” Warnock said. “It’s not a penalty but good luck to him.
“I don’t think it is anything like a penalty. Claude Davis is quick and got back goal-side of the lad, who realised he wasn’t going to get a shot on goal and (went) down.
“Maybe Dermot should have retired last season. He had a bad game out there and it is a reflection on the young lads coming through that they asked him to stay on a year. I feel we are keeping young lads back and I was surprised.”
Gallagher and the result aside, Warnock took some positives from the match.
“You wouldn’t have known who had 10 men,” he said. “We had six or seven great chances.”
His opposite number, David Moyes, conceded it was anything but a virtuoso performance, yet he was satisfied.
“I asked the players for a clean sheet and a win and they delivered,” he said. “They probably treated it a little more easily when they were against 10 men.
“Sometimes you are galvanised when you are down to 10.”
Everton’s early momentum owed much to the right-wing raids of Phil Neville, who delivered the cross from which Arteta headed them in front after 13 minutes.
Arteta was involved in a tantalising move that led to Everton’s second goal and the expulsion of Davis.
Johnson, who h
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<DIV class=storyImage></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Outspoken Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock has called for referee Dermot Gallagher to hang up his whistle after his part in the 2-0 loss to Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Warnock was dismayed at Gallagher’s decision to send off Claude Davis for a foul on Andy Johnson in the 32nd minute.
The decision virtually handed Everton the points, though they made hard work of keeping them in the bag.
“I felt the referee blew too early, in fact he even blew before he had gone down,” Warnock said. “You can’t blame Johnson, but every time anybody went down they got a free kick.
“But if they stayed on their feet and tried to play the game they didn’t get a free kick. I’m disappointed in Dermot’s performance and I have said that to him.”
The destination of the points should never have been in doubt from the moment the Toffees scored their second goal and United were reduced to 10 men.
But the Blades, knowing they had nothing to lose, revelled in the freedom.
With more assured finishing, they would have embarrassed an increasingly anxious Everton.
Mikel Arteta’s headed goal and James Beattie’s penalty after the Davis’ dismissal should have rendered the remaining 57 minutes of the match a formality for Everton.
Instead, they stuttered nervously and United spurned a series of opportunities to put themselves back in contention.
Everton will gratefully take the win, their first in five games, but United, who acknowledge they must fight for salvation at this level, can draw belief from this performance. Warnock would have preferred to be fighting from only one goal down and with 11 men.
“I don’t blame Johnson for going down,” Warnock said. “It’s not a penalty but good luck to him.
“I don’t think it is anything like a penalty. Claude Davis is quick and got back goal-side of the lad, who realised he wasn’t going to get a shot on goal and (went) down.
“Maybe Dermot should have retired last season. He had a bad game out there and it is a reflection on the young lads coming through that they asked him to stay on a year. I feel we are keeping young lads back and I was surprised.”
Gallagher and the result aside, Warnock took some positives from the match.
“You wouldn’t have known who had 10 men,” he said. “We had six or seven great chances.”
His opposite number, David Moyes, conceded it was anything but a virtuoso performance, yet he was satisfied.
“I asked the players for a clean sheet and a win and they delivered,” he said. “They probably treated it a little more easily when they were against 10 men.
“Sometimes you are galvanised when you are down to 10.”
Everton’s early momentum owed much to the right-wing raids of Phil Neville, who delivered the cross from which Arteta headed them in front after 13 minutes.
Arteta was involved in a tantalising move that led to Everton’s second goal and the expulsion of Davis.
Johnson, who h
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