Sheffield United and Burnley managers agree on Jack Robinson's controversial tackle

That apart, it was a positive night for Chris Wilder, even though his Blades went out of the League Cup on penalties.

Robinson caught Johann Berg Edmundsson studs up in his follow-through as he tackled the winger in the tenth minute of the game. After around four minutes of treatment, Gudmundsson was stretchered from the field with what looked like a bad injury.

The visitors were leading 1-0 through David McGoldrick at the time, but were pegged back by Matej Vydra's equaliser and lost a penalty shoot-out when Oli McBurnie's effort was saved.

“It's unfortunate,” said Wilder of Robinson's tackle. “I've not seen it back.

“It is a competitive game but times have changed. We did say at the time (Wilder and opposite number Sean Dyche) that turning the clock back that was a stock tackle by a lot of people. The referee's right in front of it, he's got a decision to make and he doesn't, and the linesman doesn't but I've been told it maybe went a little bit near the mark. We've just got to get the balance right.

“We wish the boy all the best of health on his recovery and that it doesn't come out too serious.”

Clarets manager Dyche was critical of the inconsistency of the officials' performances.

“In my day that was standard, that was every week,” he admitted. “Nowadays it's unacceptable.

“It was a bizarre game from the officials. One minute they're giving fouls for a tiny touch and someone going down, which is standard Premier League stuff, and the next that challenge is given as a foul and that was it.

“At the moment of asking our players thought it was a bad one, I didn't think it was that bad.”

Wilder handed debuts to Wes Foderingham, Jayden Bogle, Oliver Burke, Ethan Ampadu and Max Lowe, and the latter pair in particular impressed.

“It's not been a normal pre-season, bedding them into the system we play,” acknowledged Wilder, who said the club have enquired about Liverpool's Rhian Brewster. “They've all had to pick it up and run with it and I thought the outfield players did just that.

“We're picking players to fit our system. The two full-backs were outstanding, it was a great first goal by us and a fabulous goal by them as well.

“They had one chance (at 1-1), we had a couple of chances to nick it at the end so we're a little bit disappointed but I thought everybody gave me the nice problems we're all after. I don't want this to be an easy season for me as manager.”

McGoldrick struggled for goals last season, so Wilder was delighted with his well-taken effort from a Lowe cross.

“It took him quite a long time last year (to get his first goal of 2019-20) so we're all delighted,” he said. “I think that's his biggest (longest) contribution so far (since last season), an hour. He's an important player for us and he links the play well.

“His partnership with Oli (Burke) was good and you can see why we brought him in. it's a different position from his previous clubs.”

Of McBurnie's penalty, saved by the legs of Nick Pope, Wilder said: “It's the life and times of a centre-forward but he'll be disappointed he's not stuck his penalty away. The goalkeeper gets his hand to Billy (Sharp)'s but apart from that there's some really good penalties.

“We're in good spirits. There's not a lot wrong with us after two competitive games.”

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Thank you,

James Mitchinson