Blades, Owls paying the price for losing at cards

Christian Nade, the striker on his way out at Sheffield United, was good lad turned bad in a reserve match at Barnsley while Wednesday target Sam Sodje was sent for an early shower in Reading’s Carling Cup tie at Swansea.

Nade’s days are numbered with the Blades with boss Bryan Robson awaiting cash offers. His departure will be hampered by a three match ban set to follow his dismissal at Oakwell on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old Frenchman scored the winning goal for Sheffield United Reserves in a 1-0 victory but got his marching orders in the last minute after he raised his hands in reaction to a foul from young Barnsley defender Danny Smith.

Defender Sodje’s departure also on Tuesday left Reading down to 10 for over an hour at Swansea City. Two cautions brought the hotly disputed decision from referee Kevin Friend to throw the Nigerian out of the game.

Reading boss Steve Coppell was fuming despite winning the second round Carling Cup tie 1-0.

“I try to bite my tongue, complaining about referees, but I feel there was an element of unfairness in some of the decisions,” Coppell complained.

“Sodje hardly made a tackle. Some of the decisions I could just not understand. I thought it was outrageous. It’s a hostile atmosphere here and you need your officials to be strong and I think we got the poor end of some decisions.”

Sodje is now set to serve a one match suspension.

The 29-year has received three red cards in the past three seasons.

He made an early exit from Old Trafford on December 30, 2006, during Reading’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United and the season before was sent off against Bournemouth while playing for Brentford.