Sheffield United boss backed young defender Matt Lowton after he was shown a straight red card on Sundy, brandishing him as ‘unfortunate.’
Lowton, making just his second start for the senior side, had made a comofortable start to the game, but saw red midway through the first half for a tackle on Cardiff City’s Kevin McNaughton.
Referee Peter Walton didn’t hesitate in making the decision, one which left supporters and pundits alike divided.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell said, of the red card: ‘Yes, he was late and he caught their lad.
‘But momentum took him through and, in those situations, it could just as easily have been him on the receiving end. Matty is a lad at the very start of his career though and he’s got to learn from that.
‘He’s got bags of talent but if he doesn’t learn then it will be a very short career.vI’m sure he will though because he’s a smashing lad who was just a bit unfortunate.’
There’s no doubt that Lowton’s tackle ‘could’ have been dangerous and by the letter of the law, whether he’s young or not, it’s easy to see why Walton showed him the red card, but even Bluebirds boss Dave Jones did show some sympathy towards the youngster, admitting there was no malice in the challenge.
‘There was no way he went in there to cause harm.
‘He didn’t mean to hurt anyone but even so I don’t think there was any doubt he had to go.’
Lowton will now miss two games, which will rule him out of the Blades first home game of the season, this Saturday against QPR, so a return to fitness for Nyron Nosworthy or completed move for Arsenal’s Kyle Bartly will become even more necessary.
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