What the papers say: Sheffield Utd

[RoyalBlue]

"Insanely, the medical men thought
it right to give the defender a chance. They gave him a spray and thrust him back on, but not for long, because it
didn’t take a specialist to see the ligaments were damaged, and Sonko should not have been subjected to further
harm before being substituted as half-time approached."

I certainly agree with that journalist's view. People keep on about the physio only being able to go on the player's word but that is crap. Wasn't Fearn watching the way that Sonko was moving after he went back on the pitch? He was clearly still struggling - not surprising given the way that he went down and the fact it was sufficient for the ref to halt play immediately - and should have been brought off long before the incident when he clearly b*ggered his leg even more. IMO to allow him to try to play through such an injury was ridiculous and will probably lead to a longer lay off than otherwise might have been the case.

[zac naloen]

Seems to me that Gillespie made a bee line for Hunt to have another go rather than Hunt confronting him. The MOTD pictures didn't show Hunt being restrained by team-mates either after the initial elbow. He seemed more surprised than angry.

He looked utterly vexed to me. Just be glad it wasn't Lita, or else 5 people would have been sent off.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Seems to me that Gillespie made a bee line for Hunt to have another go rather than Hunt confronting him. The MOTD pictures didn't show Hunt being restrained by team-mates either after the initial elbow. He seemed more surprised than angry.

He looked utterly vexed to me. Just be glad it wasn't Lita, or else 5 people would have been sent off.

Lita had a set to with Montgomerie but Bikey pulled them apart before it got serious, they were eyebrow to eyebrow on the touchline as the Warnock thing kicked off.

[zac naloen]

Lita had a set to with Montgomerie but Bikey pulled them apart before it got serious, they were eyebrow to eyebrow on the touchline as the Warnock thing kicked off.

Good for him. I think Bikey needs to stay at the club, and do that he needs to be a model citizen.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Let's face it, he makes Sonko look tiny in comparison. Thought he played well yesterday, our 1st goal started with his long pass out to the left from defense. I will forgive him for the Sheff U goal as I'm sure he hasn't got used to the offside tactic we employ at free kicks, he ended up keeping Nade onside for their goal.

[mattyougg]

By then, the ball was flowing just one way, only Paddy Kenny, with an agile save, defying the home mirth about
his girth by preventing Graeme Murty from scoring with a right-foot shot from ten yards outside the area.

[earley_royals]

Let's face it, he makes Sonko look tiny in comparison. Thought he played well yesterday, our 1st goal started with his long pass out to the left from defense. I will forgive him for the Sheff U goal as I'm sure he hasn't got used to the offside tactic we employ at free kicks, he ended up keeping Nade onside for their goal.

De La Cruz was the one who played him onside.

[G Force 1871]

Seems to me that Gillespie made a bee line for Hunt to have another go rather than Hunt confronting him. The MOTD pictures didn't show Hunt being restrained by team-mates either after the initial elbow. He seemed more surprised than angry.

He looked utterly vexed to me. Just be glad it wasn't Lita, or else 5 people would have been sent off.

Lita had a set to with Montgomerie but Bikey pulled them apart before it got serious, they were eyebrow to eyebrow on the touchline as the Warnock thing kicked off.

Lita also got up and walked away without incident afterbeing completely taken out by 2 SU players immediately after all the fraca, did very well to keep composed yesterday IMO and was my MOM.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Let's face it, he makes Sonko look tiny in comparison. Thought he played well yesterday, our 1st goal started with his long pass out to the left from defense. I will forgive him for the Sheff U goal as I'm sure he hasn't got used to the offside tactic we employ at free kicks, he ended up keeping Nade onside for their goal.

De La Cruz was the one who played him onside.

good for him

[topfuller]

http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,1995835,00.html

Warnock in danger of month-long ban from the dugout

Jeremy Wilson at the Madejski Stadium Monday January 22, 2007

The Guardian

Neil Warnock will appeal to the Football Association in a bid to avoid a lengthy touchline ban for his part in the ugly melee which followed Keith Gillespie's sending-off 15 seconds after coming on as a substitute.

The Sheffield United manager is facing the possibility of more than a month away from the dug-out after it emerged that he still had a four-match suspended ban hanging over him before being sent to the stands on Saturday.

That dates back to a hearing last May when he admitted a charge of improper conduct after being sent from the dug-out during a match against Leeds United and was also fined for a V-sign in the direction of Nigel Worthington when the former Norwich City manager refused to shake his hand.

On Saturday he was involved in a near brawl that saw a chair fly over as well as pushing and shoving between both sets of coaching staff and several players.

The FA is certain to launch an investigation and Warnock confirmed he will request a personal hearing. Despite being sent to the stands for "adopting an aggressive attitude", he is adamant he will be supported by the referee, Mark Halsey, over any suggestion he was "telling people to break legs".

"There won't be a suspension - in British justice you are allowed to have a hearing," said Warnock. "I don't see any reason why I got sent off, but I think he had to do it to calm the situation."

Warnock, though, is resigned to losing Gillespie for an extended period after the winger elbowed Stephen Hunt. He then went back and struck Hunt again after Halsey had shown the red card.

Controversy seems to follow Hunt, who was involved in the collision that resulted in a fractured skull for Chelsea's Petr Cech, but it is Gillespie and the Reading coach Wally Downes who may have most to fear from the FA.

Although Warnock was gesturing with his foot, Downes sparked the touchline fracas by marching over and shoving the Sheffield United manager.

Reading later claimed they had interpreted a kicking movement from Warnock as a signal to his players. Warnock insisted he was simply referring to a challenge by Reading's Steve Sidwell that occurred before the Gillespie sending-off.

"Fortunately the right person [Halsey] has heard what I've said," said Warnock. "Whatever interpretation Wally took was wrong and it was out of order what he did."

Steve Coppell, the Reading manager, accused Warnock of inflaming the situation. "It looked to be an aggressive gesture," he said. "It suggested that play would resume at a different tempo."

Coppell also criticised Gillespie, but would not condemn the behaviour of Downes. "I will not be taking any action," he said. While Warnock may have grounds for appeal, there could be no mitigating factors for Gillespie's behaviour.

Gillespie was brought on soon after Sheffield United had fallen two goals behind and was dismissed before play had even resumed. As the players took up their positions for a throw-in, he became involved in some jostling with Hunt and threw an elbow into the midfielder's face.

Warnock did not defend his player but was still critical of Hunt, pointing out another tackle later in the match. "I thought Hunt's tackle on [Nick] Montgomery epitomised him," he said. "There are one or two things I don't like about Hunt."

Shane Long, who opened the scoring before goals from Ulises de la Cruz, Hunt and a United consolation from Christian Nade, described his team-mate as a "teddy bear".

"He [Hunt] is 100% the innocent party - he didn't try and damage his [Gillespie's] elbow with his face," added Coppell.

Amid all the controversy, Reading's comfortable win - achieved despite unexpected injury and illness to Dave Kitson, Ibrahima Sonko and Nicky Shorey - was almost forgotten.

They are now within three points of the top six.

Man of the match Stephen Hunt (Reading)

How the feud began

The touchline fracas between Neil Warnock and Reading's coach, Wally Downes, is underpinned by an incident in 2001.

Downes was at Bury with Stan Ternent, who fell out with Warnock when he claimed the Sheffield United manager had sent a "spy" to listen to his half-time team-talk during a game.

"Because he worked with Stan Ternent he gets a bit carried away," said Warnock. "I don't think he was coherent - his head and eyes were bulging." Reading's manager, Steve Coppell, said: "He [Downes] is a good bloke - it was just a reaction to one thing."

Fastest red cards

0 sec Walter Boyd Swansea v Darlington Nov 23 1999

Struck an opponent before the ball was in play after going on as a substitute

13 sec Kevin Pressman Sheffield Wednesday v Wolverhampton Wanderers Aug 14 2000

15 sec Keith Gillespie Sheffield United v Reading Jan 20 2007

15 sec Simon Rea Peterborough v Cardiff Nov 2 2002

19 sec Mark Smith Crewe Alexandra v Darlington Mar 12 1994

[RoyalBlue]

http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,1995835,00.html

Warnock in danger of month-long ban from the dugout

Jeremy Wilson at the Madejski Stadium Monday January 22, 2007

The Guardian

Warnock did not defend his player but was still critical of Hunt, pointing out another tackle later in the match. "I thought Hunt's tackle on [Nick] Montgomery epitomised him," he said. "There are one or two things I don't like about Hunt."

There's fifty things I don't like about Colin!

[Avon Royal]

Why is Gillespie's red card timed at 19 seconds when it seems to be exactly the same situation as Boyd's?

[Symposium]

The Guardian

Controversy seems to follow Hunt, who was involved in the collision that resulted in a fractured skull for Chelsea's Petr Cech, but it is Gillespie and the Reading coach Wally Downes who may have most to fear from the FA.

The way that reads to me is that Hunt should be fearing the FA as a result of getting his face in the way of Gillespie's elbow, but Gillespie and Downes have more to fear.

Either poor journalism or just poor English.

[TFF]

Why is Gillespie's red card timed at 19 seconds when it seems to be exactly the same situation as Boyd's?

The Times has got it right:

NOUGHT TO RED CARD IN LESS THAN SIXTY SECONDS

The sending off-of Keith Gillespie, the Sheffield United winger, for elbowing Steve Hunt equalled the world’s fastest dismissal and will go into the record books as nought seconds. Gillespie came on as a substitute and was sent off before play re-started.

The previous such red card was in 1999, when Clive Wilkes sent off Walter Boyd, of Swansea City, for striking Martin Gray in the 83rd minute of the goalless draw with Darlington at Vetch Field.

Wilkes had just sent off Steve Tutill, of Darlington. Boyd came on as a substitute, hit Gray and was sent off immediately.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Gillespie was brought on soon after Sheffield United had fallen two goals behind and was dismissed before play had even resumed. As the players took up their positions for a throw-in, he became involved in some jostling with Hunt and threw an elbow into the midfielder's face.
Fastest red cards

0 sec Walter Boyd Swansea v Darlington Nov 23 1999

Struck an opponent before the ball was in play after going on as a substitute

Equal fastest ever sending off then.... we've seen history!

[79Royal]

You'd think that out of all the papers in this country, at least one journalist would be able to write an accurate report of the game!

Quite how Steven Hunt could be blamed for anything that happened on Saturday is beyond me. He stayed well out of the touchline handbags and was annoyed but not threatening towards Gillespie after the elbow, although he had every right to be.

Funniest part of the game was during the touchline brawl, when Glenn Little took the opportunity to re-tie his boots. he looked thouroughly disinterested!

[biscuitsrus]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/01/21/sfgrea21.xml

Reading (1) 3 Sheffield United (0) 1

Reading and Sheffield United may have been promoted together as friends but there was certainly no love lost between them yesterday as the Royals maintained their four-year unbeaten sequence against the Blades in a match that exploded into unexpected fury just after half-time and resulted in three dismissals — yet only one of them a player.

Nothing in a keenly contested but uncontroversial first half had suggested the ugly sequence of events that was to follow when Mark Halsey issued three straight red cards —first to Keith Gillespie for a dangerous elbow in the face, then to United manager Neil Warnock and Reading first-team coach Wally Downes for their part in a dug-out brawl, incidents which overshadowed yet another comfortable home win for Steve Coppell's slick-passing side.

A hamstring injury ruled out Reading's top scorer, the exciting young striker Kevin Doyle. Shane Long, who arrived with Doyle as part of the same deal from Cork City but has been less impressive, took his place.

Warnock has fielded more players this season than any other Premiership manager and has once again been busy in the January transfer market. But none of his four new signings were ready to make the 16-man squad while Chris Morgan completed a three-match ban.

Warnock will have needed no reminding that the last time the Royals played at home they put six past West Ham. Only Chelsea have scored more first-half goals than Coppell's side and once again they were ahead by the interval.

Until the goal, two minutes before half-time, Reading hadn't hit anywhere near top gear despite being the better team. When they did score, it owed as much to comical defending as skilful forward play. Twice Sheffield tried to clear, twice the ball cannoned off their defenders and at the third time of asking, Long buried it for his first Premiership goal. It was timely moment to score; a minute earlier, Reading lost Ibrahima Sonko with what looked like a twisted knee.

Any chance of a Sheffield comeback was immediately erased. First Reading doubled their lead with a classic move of pace and precision, former Aston Villa defender Ulises de la Cruz firing into the corner after latching on to James Harper's wonderful defence-splitting pass. Then Gillespie, who had only just come off the bench as substitute, was red-carded for an off-the-ball elbow on Stephen Hunt, the player who, ironically, was involved in the horrific Petr Cech injury.

The Sheffield bench reacted in fury before both Warnock, who seemed to have sarcastically applauded Hunt, and Downes, who got involved in pushing, were both sent from their respective dug-outs.

Hunt proceeded to convert Reading's third, expertly clawing his leg round the ball from close range after Steve Sidwell's effort had been cleared off the line. Nade's reply with 13 minutes left rounded off an afternoon that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Match summary

Man of the Match: Graeme Murty. Amid all the ill-feeling and off-the-ball shenanigans, it needed a cool head and the Reading skipper provided it, keeping his players' minds on the job and putting in a sterling performance at right-back.
Moment of the Match: Not a goal or a move but the virtually unprecedented scenario of both a manager and an assistant being ordered from the dug-out. Neil Warnock of Sheffield and Wally Downes of Reading were both dismissed for their roles in the mass brawl that followed another red card dealt out to Keith Gillespie.
Rating: 7/10

A bit harsh!

Harsh in the sense of unfair. He wasn't brought with expectation of making the same impact. He'd been playing football seriously for two years when we got him. I think Long has been equally impressive if the measure is relative to expectations.

Agree thats all I wanted to say other than Happy Birthday Shane.

[Dirk Gently]

Agree thats all I wanted to say other than Happy Birthday Shane.

And to Sonks too!

[TFF]

Warnock's Local Rag

SHEFFIELD United manager Neil Warnock is ready to protest his innocence if hauled before the Football Association over a touchline bust-up with Reading coach Wally Downes.
Warnock and Downes clashed just moments after Blades substitute Keith Gillespie was sent off for violent conduct during Saturday's Premiership game at the Madejski Stadium which ended in a 3-1 defeat for the visitors.
Downes, a former United player who has also worked in the past with one of Warnock's arch-enemies Stan Ternent, thought the Blades manager was telling his players to break their opponents' legs.
He subsequently charged into the Blades technical area and pushed Warnock in the chest sparking angry scenes.
Both men were ordered from their respective dug-outs by referee Mark Halsey and are now likely to be charged with misconduct in the next 48 hours.
For Warnock, the implications could be more serious – as he was given a suspended three-match ban at the start of the season.
However, the Blades manager, who was also threatened by Reading supporters as he left the Madejski Stadium, insists that Downes is 'out-of-order' and had clearly got the wrong end of the stick.
Although Warnock lifted his leg several times in portrayal of a violent tackle, he says he was doing it only to complain about a challenge by Reading's Steve Sidwell on defender Chris Armstrong.
Warnock said: "In every walk of life, people try to get out of a hole and don't let the facts get in the way of a good story.
"Wally has run across into our technical area and pushed me.
"He's trying to say that I am telling people to break legs again – which is absolutely garbage.
"But the facts will come out and whatever interpretation Wally took was wrong.
"It was out of order what he did. Fortunately for me, the referee Mark Halsey has heard exactly what was said.
"Mark was 10 yards in front of me and I lifted my foot to say that I thought Sidwell's foul on Armstrong was the worst foul of the day.
"But Wally has just barged into me and said something about... I don't know, I don't think he was coherrent. His head and his eyes were bulging.
"He is interpreting what I am saying the way he wants to. I don't think they heard what I said to Mark Halsey. They are putting two and two together and getting five.
"Fortunately, for me, the one man that matters (the referee) actually heard what I said which is a great plus. He won't lie about what I said.
"No-one can have a go at his impartiality.
"You might say there is 'history' between me and Wally. He gets a bit carried away because he worked with Stan Ternent."
Trouble erupted soon after the interval when Gillespie was sent off for elbowing Reading winger Steven Hunt.
The Northern Ireland international had only been on the field 12 seconds and had not even touched the ball but reacted angrily to a push in the back from the Reading player.
He will be dealt with by Warnock, who has a disciplinary code in place for such irresponsible action.
Warnock, however, began shouting at the referee after Gillespie had disappeared down the tunnel but it was his portrayal of a studs-up challenge that sent Downes over the edge.
Surprisingly, Reading manager Steve Coppell would not condemn Downes's behaviour afterwards and pointed an accusing finger of blame at Warnock.
Coppell said: "I don't know what Neil was meaning but he was making a challenge, in shape, as if he was going straight on in the tackle.
"It looked to be an aggressive gesture. I think it was wrong. The insinuation was to raise the aggression level in what was at that stage a game that looked to have been played 100 per cent in the right way.
"I certainly didn't want my players to be reacting to anything like that and I obviously didn't want them to be on the receiving end of anything. I don't want my players being kicked.
"I am very happy to play football against anyone but it looked as there was a response required to that gesture.
"I am not going to say anymore because other people are going to make judgements. I am sure Wally reacted to the action. I have got no problem with what Wally did.
"On the face of it, I am not going to do anything against Wally, absolutely not. That's not to say someone else might not do something."
The Blades defeat means they have edged one point closer to the Premiership relegation zone although they are still four points clear – and they now have eight days to prepare for their next game against Fulham at Bramall Lane.
ian.appleyard@ypn.co.uk

Madejski Madness

Two coaches sent to the stands and Keith Gillespie sent off, here is how the drama unfolded:
51 mins: Sheffield United defender Chris Armstrong is hurt by a rash challenge from Reading's Steve Sidwell.
53 mins: Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock sends on substitute Keith Gillespie.
54 mins: Gillespie is sent off for elbowing Reading winger Stephen Hunt just 12 seconds after coming on to the field.
55 mins: Warnock complains to referee Mark Halsey about the 'studs up' challenge by Sidwell.
55mins: Reading coach Wally Downes, thinking Warnock is urging his players to 'break the legs' of the Reading players, pushes Warnock and sparks angry scenes on the touchline.
56mins: Downes and Warnock are 'sent off' by referee Mark Halsey.
69mins: Hunt rubs in the salt in the wounds by putting Reading 3-0 ahead.
22 January 2007



Who had a pop at Colin then?

[ohagerup]

Lita had a set to with Montgomerie but Bikey pulled them apart before it got serious, they were eyebrow to eyebrow on the touchline as the Warnock thing kicked off.

Good for him. I think Bikey needs to stay at the club, and do that he needs to be a model citizen.

While Murty had to hold back Hunt, it seems that Ingimarsson and Bikey did the peacekeeping.

Any words on what Hunt is supposed to have done to Gillespie? Warnock indicated some deliberate shirt pulling (which is not very nice if its true, the ball being out of play and everything).

As for Warnocks gesture. Was that gesture looking anything like Sidwells challange?