Barnsley 1 Sheff Utd 2

Simon Davey was seething with referee Andy D'Urso after being sent to the stands in an explosive South Yorkshire derby in which two players were sent off.

Kayode Odejayi ensured a grandstand finale by heading home with two minutes remaining.

But Davey was scathing in his criticism of D'Urso, who belatedly consulted his assistant before deciding to award the Blades a controversial 85th-minute penalty after Barnsley defender Rob Kozluk had appeared to handle.

Davey said: "Obviously he said he didn't see it, but he didn't see Darren Moore get pulled down in the box either.

"That's what happens when you get Premier League referees coming down into the Championship. It's all about them."

Blades defender Ugo Ehiogu and Barnsley midfielder Anderson De Silva were both sent off in the first period for a spiteful tussle that ended with both players attempting to headbutt the other.

Davey said he needed to see a video of the incident which led to the double dismissal, but could not understand the referee's penalty decision.

Davey added: "I've never experienced that before. It's usually the linesman working in that half of the field (who gets consulted), that's why I found it really peculiar because he was actually behind me when he gave the decision.

"There was a bit of noise from the opposite bench and all of a sudden he made a decision. The referee was playing on. The referee was only 10 or 15 yards away. Say no more."

Davey praised his players, who he described as "magnificent" in an enthralling local derby.

He said: "I'm disappointed with the result, but the way the lads performed today, I thought they were magnificent throughout the 90 minutes.

"They battled away, it was always going to be a battle. Sheffield United are a physical side and the lads stood up to the challenge.

"But for me, how can a linesman give penalty when he's standing behind me and the referee's 15 yards away?

"I got a little upset over that and rightly so."
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Ian Wilkinson

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