Chris Wilder shares what he’s said to Everton loanee Mason Holgate after his horror tackle

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has revealed Mason Holgate apologised to his team-mates after his red card in the 5-0 home defeat to Brighton.

Holgate joined the South Yorkshire club on loan from Everton in January as they attempt to battle against relegation from the Premier League. However, his start at Bramall Lane has been difficult after making his debut in the 5-0 defeat to Aston Villa at the beginning of February.

Things picked up for the 27-year-old in his next game against Luton Town, but his nightmare continued on Sunday inside 13 minutes against Brighton and Hove Albion. Keen to make an early impression, Holgate lunged into a challenge on the Seagulls' Kaoru Mitoma, catching him high on his left leg, studs first.

Scandalous Holgate tackle is the worst I've seen in years

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Initially, the referee gave a yellow card, but after VAR interference, this was upgraded to a red. Down to ten men, the Blades were blown away by the visitors and succumbed to another heavy 5-0 defeat.

In his post-match press conference, Wilder revealed Holgate had apologised to his new teammates. He revealed: "He has apologised to the boys; he understands it, and he is an experienced pro.

"He has got it wrong, I want us to be competitive, I want us to win tackles, we can’t have a passive game. It is a competitive game, it is not a non-contact game but we have to get that right, Mason has to get that right.

"It is a huge setback for us in the approach to the overall game. I am torn, I am a competitor and I understand that it was a very, very strong challenge and the game has moved on.

"Some people won’t want the game to move and on and expect physical contact, excessive force or whatever you