Chris Wilder and Liam Manning disagreed over the red card for Rob Dickie that proved the turning point in Sheffield United’s 3-0 play-off win at Bristol City.
The Blades took a huge step towards the Sky Bet Championship play-off final as Harrison Burrows – converting from the spot after Dickie had felled Kieffer Moore – and second-half substitutes Andre Brooks and Callum O’Hare put the Robins to the sword.
Dickie was banished in first-half stoppage time for a challenge deemed to be deliberate, with the two managers offering different opinions.
United manager Wilder said: “Of course, there’s a big turning point in the game. To get that first goal and for them to go down to 10 men put us in a good place.
“I don’t think he made an attempt to play the ball. He just dragged him back.
“It swings the game in our favour, but there’s still a job to do. They sat back and we had to find those moments, as well as doing our defensive work diligently.
“A good finish from Brooksy and Callum getting on the end of something has made it a good night for us.”
City boss Manning insisted Dickie’s dismissal was unjustified and revealed the Robins had questioned the appointment of referee Oliver Langford ahead of the tie.
Manning said: “The whole game completely changed because of a major error.
“He (Moore) is waiting for contact and there is contact. The red has to be for no intention to play the ball and Rob kicks the ball.
“So I don’t get how you can not attempt to play the ball and yet kick it.
“We flagged concerns earlier in the week about his (Langford’s) performance level this season. We felt it was too big a game for him.
“He’s given out previous reds which have been incorrect and unfortunately he’s given another one tonight.”
United are now in a commanding position to reach Wembley in their bid to finally negotiate the play-offs successfully at the 10th attempt.
The second leg will take place at Bramall Lane on Monday night, with the winners meeting Coventry or Sunderland in the final.
Wilder said: “I’ve been in the game far too long to know that even now when everybody will be thinking it’s job done, it isn’t.
“The players have got to produce another professional performance and compete.
“They’ve got nothing to lose and everyone will be writing them off at Bramall Lane.
“But that’s a dangerous situation for us to be in and we’ve got to absolutely go full tilt in this game.”
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