Scandalous Mason Holgate tackle was the worst I've seen in years - Mitoma was nearly finished

Jamie Redknapp has labelled Everton loanee Mason Holgate's sending-off in Sheffield United's 5-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion as "one of the worst tackles I've seen in years".

The 27-year-old defender, who made the loan move from Goodison Park to Bramall Lane in January after an unsuccessful stint with Southampton in the Championship, was shown a straight red card by referee Stuart Atwell for a reckless challenge on Kaoru Mitoma 13 minutes into the Blades' Premier League defeat on Sunday.

Atwell had initially shown the defender a yellow card but after the intervention of VAR, who recommended a closer inspection of the challenge on the pitch-side monitor, Holgate was given his marching orders at Bramall Lane.

Speaking on Sky Sports during the half-time break, with Chris Wilder's side 2-0 down to the Seagulls, Redknapp slammed Holgate's challenge as one of the worst he's seen in the Premier League and insisted Mitmoma was lucky to escape a serious injury from the potential "career-ending" challenge.

Everton can save themselves after points deduction appeal claim

'Get on with it' - Sean Dyche sends blunt message to Premier League over Everton points deduction

"It's an assault. It's one of the worst tackles I've seen in years. Even in my era that would have been a scandalous tackle," said Redknapp, who captained Liverpool during his Premier League career. "How on earth Mitoma's managed to get his left leg out of the way, I've got no idea. Thank goodness he has, otherwise that's career-ending. His career would be finished.

"I feel so sorry for Chrissy Wilder in this instance because his best-laid plans... he's said 'Alright, let's not make any mistakes, let's not give anything away this first 10 minutes', and you have a