Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder reflected on a “really difficult week” after a morale-boosting 3-1 victory over Ipswich was dampened by Patrick Bamford’s late red card.
Bamford had halted Ipswich’s hopes of a comeback when he made it 3-1 in the 66th minute, but he was later sent off after receiving a second yellow card for diving.
Wilder’s side had Djibril Soumare and Japhet Tanganga dismissed in last weekend’s loss at Charlton, and also had injury problems to contend with for the midweek defeat at Southampton.
“It’s been a really difficult week, really difficult,” Wilder said.
“I think we would have come through there (at Southampton). We were a little bit off of it on Wednesday night.
“Obviously playing with nine men for an hour (last weekend) and then the selection that we had to make from a physical point of view. Martin McGuinness dislocated his shoulder on Wednesday night and played. Ben May had a tight hamstring.
“It always just seems that maybe people don’t see what I see and maybe see the other bits and pieces that fly around at a football club.”
Goals from Callum O’Hare and Andre Brooks gave the Blades a 2-0 half-time lead against high-flying Ipswich.
The visitors reduced the deficit in the 60th minute when Jack Clarke scored a penalty after Jack Taylor’s shot was handled by Mark McGuinness inside the area.
Bamford restored their two-goal advantage six minutes later before being sent-off in the 84th minute when he went to ground as he looked to round goalkeeper Christian Walton.
Wilder added: “It’s contact. I’ve not had a chance to speak to Pat, but he’s right there.
“(He is) going to be a miss because I thought Pat was great for us and we’ve got a free week and obviously it’s a huge game (at Millwall).”
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was left to rue some missed chances and failed attempts to clear dangerous balls.
He said: “We’re really frustrated with how the game panned out. I think up until the first goal, there was big chances both ends.
“We had the better chances, probably three big, big moments to go 1-0 up, which of course would have changed the complexion of the game. The third of those chances, of course, is the corner that then they score from.
“But then we have to own the next bit because the first goal was really, really poor for us. We can’t concede that goal from our corner.
“We’re not dealing with the ball well enough. When they get the first goal in a situation like that, the stadium’s going to be up and you have to stay strong until half-time and then they score a second goal.
“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb. We got the goal back. And then again, a long ball that we can’t deal with well enough and it’s 3-1. That was then too much to come back from.”
