Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and Sheffield United star give surprising insight into Mason Holgate's red card tackle

Not everyone was convinced Mason Holgate's red card against Brighton was the right decision…

He Sheffield United the defender was expelled for a knee-high challenge in Kaoru Mitoma at Bramall Lane during their 5-0 defeat.

Holgate's reckless tackle saw talkSPORT Perry Groves They call it a “legbreaker” and many on social media consider it one of the worst they've ever seen.

However, surprisingly, the leader of the Seagulls Roberto De Zerbi He adopted a more understanding stance.

The Italian admitted he felt “sorry” for Sheffield United after an early sending-off changed the game.

“I regret the red card for Sheffield,” De Zerbi told talkSPORT.

“I think we deserved to win but maybe we could win 11 against 11. But I'm sorry because a team plays with one less player.

“It can happen to us and in the past it was like that.”

The unexpected shot raised questions about VAR and what his opinion was on the tackle, but De Zerbi continued to feel sorry for his opponents.

“I haven't seen the red card situation, so I don't know,” he continued. “What I do know is that it is very difficult when coaches have to talk about red cards.

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“When I train the team during the week I always like to play 11 against 11 but we can't change the rules.

“I don't know (about the tackle), I haven't seen the foul yet. I believe in the referee.

“I'm sorry anyway because it wasn't a real game. Because if you play 75-80 minutes with one more player, it is not a real game.”

Sheffield United captain echoed De Zerbi's thoughts Anel Ahmedhodzicalthough he said flatly that Holgate's challenge was not red.

Ahmedhodzic told Sky Sports: “It's a horrible feeling. I think we started the game well and things were going according to the game plan.

“We created some chances and then we got the red card and that ends the game and our plan.

“If they asked me my opinion, it is not a red card and I don't want to say more.

“From what I saw on the field, I don't believe it. Maybe in the replay it seems harder than it is, but on the field I saw that it was a fair tackle.”