Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has voiced his frustration over Hamza Dewan Choudhury’s controversial red card during his side’s dramatic 3-2 defeat to Portsmouth in the English Championship. The Bangladesh-born midfielder was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, while Sheffield were also denied a late penalty, prompting further criticism from their manager.
Portsmouth took the lead in the 41st minute before doubling their advantage in the 54th minute. Sheffield, however, fought back strongly, reducing the deficit in the 59th minute and restoring parity eight minutes later.
With the score level at 2-2, the match appeared to be heading towards a tense finish. But Portsmouth struck again in the 89th minute to secure a 3-2 victory, leaving Sheffield disappointed after their impressive comeback.
The result was made even more frustrating for the visitors by Hamza’s dismissal shortly before half-time. The midfielder received his second yellow card following an incident involving Portsmouth player Ryan Kavuma-McQueen.
After attempting to take the ball through Hamza’s legs, Kavuma-McQueen went to ground. Referee Oliver Langford awarded a foul and subsequently showed Hamza a second yellow card, forcing the Sheffield midfielder to leave the pitch.
Wilder questioned the decision, claiming that the referee had initially indicated that he would not issue a second booking before changing his mind. The Sheffield manager also questioned whether Hamza could realistically have avoided contact with his opponent in that situation.
Speaking after the match, Wilder expressed his disbelief at the decision.
“Where else is Hamza supposed to go? Honestly, I just cannot understand where he was supposed to go,” he said.
The Sheffield boss admitted that he had to be cautious when discussing the referee’s performance, suggesting that he could not openly express everything he wanted to say.
“I do not understand where Hamza was supposed to be in that moment. I have to be very careful with what I say because there are things I might want to say that I cannot,” Wilder added.
The controversial dismissal was not the only incident to leave Sheffield frustrated. Wilder also criticised the referee for failing to award his side a penalty in the closing stages of the match.
According to the Sheffield manager, one of his players was pulled down by his shirt inside Portsmouth’s penalty area. He claimed that the shirt was almost pulled off the player’s body, yet the referee allowed play to continue without awarding a spot-kick.
“Even right at the end of the game, one of our players was pulled inside the penalty area. His shirt was almost pulled off his body, and you could clearly see it. These things have left me extremely frustrated,” Wilder said.
For Sheffield, the defeat was particularly disappointing given their response after falling two goals behind. Their ability to recover and draw level had offered hope of securing a positive result, only for Portsmouth’s late winner to settle the contest.
Hamza’s dismissal and the rejected penalty appeal added to the sense of frustration surrounding the match. Wilder’s comments made clear that he had serious concerns about the decisions taken at crucial moments, although the final result remained unchanged.
Portsmouth ultimately claimed all three points with a 3-2 victory, while Sheffield were left to reflect on a comeback that failed to produce a reward and a series of contentious incidents that overshadowed the contest.
