There is some confusion about how many games John Egan will be suspended for Sheffield United.
Egan was shown a straight red card during the 1-1 draw with Millwall for a handball on the line. Tom Elliott headed the ball towards goal before the Blades defender punched it away.
No one at Bramall Lane could complain about the decision to send Egan off, but Ben Marshall did miss the resultant penalty.
Unfortunately for United, with a man down the Lions did eventually take advantage. In the fifth minute of injury time Jake Cooper nodded in the equaliser.
Yet manager Chris Wilder has no complaints about what Egan did.
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“It’s an instinctive situation where John deals with it, and we have got to get on with it,” Wilder told the Sheffield Star.
“We’ve lost players before; we missed Jack O’Connell for a few games and Chris Basham for a few games recently and we have got to deal with it.”
(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
How long is Egan out?
There is a misconception that a straight red card results in a three-game ban – but that is not always the case.
If a player is sent off for serious foul play or violent conduct then it is an immediate suspension for three matches (or more in some cases).
However, denying a goal scoring opportunity – as Egan did – is a one-game ban. It is the same as if a player is shown two yellow cards.
It’s why Leeds United goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell only missed one match after his red against the Blades.
This is good news for United as it means Egan will only miss Friday’s home match with Nottingham Forest. The defender will be available for the trip to Hull City on Monday.
With Chris Basham currently struggling with a hamstring injury this could prove crucial for Wilder.
