Sheffield United manager loses his mind smashing up sub board and gets sent off

It was a bad night all round for Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom, who not only saw his side lose 3-1 to promotion rivals Middlesbrough, but was also sent off for booting the subs board

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom was sent off after taking his anger out on the fourth official’s substitution board.

It was very frustrating watch for Heckingbottom on Wednesday night as his Championship side slipped to a 3-1 defeat to promotion rivals Middlesbrough on home soil. Oli McBurnie had given the hosts the lead, but goals from Chuba Akpom and Cameron Archer (two) flipped the game on its head.

Shortly after Archer netted his second and Boro’s third of the night, Heckingbottom kicked the subs board in anger. Referee Andre Marriner, who he’d sarcastically clapped, subsequently gave him his marching orders.

Explaining his actions post-match, the Blades boss told the Yorkshire Post: “It’s nothing to do with this game, my frustration has been building over the season.

“We are an honest team but in our conversations about [James] McAtee and [Sander] Berge getting fouled, we get double punishments because we don’t get bookings and we’re not losing free-kicks.

“I’m having conversations with my assistants about whether we should go down. I shouldn’t react that way but it’s not that game.

“We’re getting punished, I think, for our honesty. As football, we’re rewarding people for going down.”

After losing to Nottingham Forest in the play-offs last season, United are primed to go one better this season. They currently sit second in the table, eight points behind league leaders Burnley.

But Middlesbrough, who occupy third, are clinging on to the hope of automatic promotion. They cut their points difference to seven with the victory last night, albeit having played a game more than those around them.