What Kyle Walker did in the Sheffield United dressing room after Kalvin Phillips' red card revealed | OneFootball

Kyle Walker had a shock involvement with Kalvin Phillips after the midfielder was dismissed in Sheffield United's 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday

It was a typically-eventful Steel City Derby affair on Sunday afternoon, which saw Sheffield United run out 2-1 victors at Bramall Lane to seal Sheffield Wednesday's relegation to League One with no fewer than 13 games to spare of the 2025/26 Championship campaign.

Wednesday's points total of -7 meant that, owing to results elsewhere over the weekend, all three points were required in order to avoid the inevitability of relegation being confirmed in nightmareish circumstances on the Blades' own turf.

A long afternoon appeared to be in store for Henrik Pedersen's when Patrick Bamford and Harrison Burrows fired the hosts into a two-goal lead after just twenty minutes, though a huge flashpoint arrived following the interval in the form of Kalvin Phillips' dismissal.

The on-loan midfielder saw red for a reckless late challenge on Svante Ingelsson, and the Owls halved the defecit moments later through Charlie McNeill before huffing and puffing in pursuit of a late equaliser and then going down to ten men themselves when Gabriel Otegbayo received his second booking.

Wednesday were ultimately unable to complete a dramatic comeback at Bramall Lane and save relegation for another week, confirming a four straight derby day victories for Chris Wilder's men.

While the narrative of the occasion and exactly what the Blades were able to seal remains the crucial talking point, Phillips' red card in what was only his third appearance for the South Yorkshire outfit after arriving on loan from Manchester City also represents a huge takeaway from yesterday's showdown - and Kyle Walker's role in the aftermath has now been revealed in a surprise twist.

What Kyle Walker did in the Sheffield United dressing room after Kalvin Phillips' red card

Phillips left the pitch with an expression of shock after his high-footed tackle on Ingelsson was met with a straight red, with the 30-year-old departing with his arms outstretched before heading down the tunnel.

It may have been a lonely moment for Phillips, though he was soon met with the company of two ex-Blades stars in Walker and Rhian Brewster.

Walker, who currently plies his trade for Burnley after bringing his trophy-laden eight-year stay with Manchester City to an end last summer, started his career in the red-and-white quarters of the Steel City and was in attendance to see his boyhood club retain Sheffield's bragging rights.

He was also, of course, a long-time teammate of Phillips' for both club and country, and accompanied the ex-Leeds United star after he made his way back to the changing room to offer words of support.

What Chris Wilder said about Kyle Walker and Rhian Brewster's actions to Kalvin Phillips after Sheffield United dismissal

This was confirmed after the match by Wilder, who revealed that Derby County star Rhian Brewster joined the pair to console Phillips as Sheffield United saw out their lead on the pitch.

Brewster is enjoying an impressive campaign with Championship rivals Derby this term with five strikes from 25 appearances, having made 119 appearances for the Blades before leaving on a free transfer back in June, and Wilder was impressed with the integrity and support of the pair.

"So, that’s disappointing for him getting (trying to get) into a rhythm because you see the quality that he possesses.

“Kyle Walker’s down in the changing room with him. Rhian Brewster is down in the changing room. That’s the type of club that we are.

"They love him to bits, we love him to bits. I’m disappointed."

Phillips has, of course, been building up fitness and momentum to rediscover his rhythm after dropping down to the Championship with the Blades, and made his first two starts in nearly a year in successive encounters against Portsmouth and the Owls.

However, he's now set to miss the next three games of his side's late-season play-off charge, in which they will take on league leaders Coventry City this coming Wednesday before clashes with QPR and .