Joe Rothwell lasted just 35 minutes on his Sheffield United debut before a reckless lunge ended his night and exposed the deep frustration still burning from his failed Rangers spell.
Chris Wilder admitted the red card was no surprise. The Blades boss revealed his new midfielder is carrying serious mental scars from six miserable months at Ibrox, where he started only four games and never felt wanted.
Wilder Lays Bare Rothwell’s Inner Turmoil
Speaking after the 3-1 defeat to Middlesbrough, Wilder didn’t hide the truth.
“Joe is hurting bad from what happened up there,” Wilder told reporters. “He’s come back angry with himself and angry at how it went. Sometimes that boils over. It did tonight.”
The challenge on Alan Browne was wild and high. Referee Josh Smith had no choice. Straight red. Rothwell stood stunned on the Bramall Lane pitch, hands on head, while teammates tried to calm him down.
BBC Tees commentator Neil Maddison called it “a disgraceful challenge born out of pure frustration.” Few disagreed.
From Bournemouth Loan Star to Ibrox Outcast
Rothwell arrived at Rangers in July full of hope. He had just starred in the Premier League with Bournemouth, making 11 appearances and earning praise for his energy and passing range.
Philippe Clement talked him up as the perfect partner for Mohamed Diomande. It never happened.
Instead, Rothwell found himself frozen out. He played just 135 minutes in the league. His last appearance came in November against Hearts. After that, nothing.
By January he was gone, returning south on loan to Sheffield United until the end of the season.
One Rangers insider told me this week: “Joe never settled. He felt the manager didn’t fancy him from day one. Training was fine, but come matchday he was always the one left out. That eats away at you.”
The Numbers That Hurt
Here’s how bad it got at Ibrox:
- Games started: 4
- Total minutes in Premiership: 135
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 0
- Times named in matchday squad after November: 0
No wonder he looked like a man with something to prove when he pulled on the red and white stripes.
Wilder: “We Signed Him Because He’s Better Than This”
Despite the horror debut, Wilder remains convinced he has landed a top player.
“I watched him at Bournemouth. I know what he’s capable of,” the United boss said. “This is a bump in the road. A big one, yes, but we’ll get him right.”
Rothwell will now serve a three-match ban. He misses games against Bristol City, Preston, and Swansea. Time to reset.
Sources close to the player say he has already apologized to the dressing room and promised it won’t happen again.
One teammate told The Star: “You can see the fire in him. That’s what we need. Just got to channel it the right way.”
A Fresh Start or Another False Dawn?
This isn’t the first time Rothwell has had to rebuild. He left Leeds United in 2022 feeling undervalued, then revived his career at Bournemouth under Andoni Iraola.
Sheffield United fans hope Bramall Lane becomes the next chapter, not the epilogue.
Wilder certainly believes it can be.
“I’ve told him: leave Rangers in the past. You’re a Sheffield United player now. Show everyone what you showed me last season.”
The red card was ugly. The frustration was real. But sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to bounce back harder.
Joe Rothwell knows that better than most.
Now the countdown begins to his second debut. Three games to stew, reflect, and come back ready to prove the nightmare is finally over.
What do you think, Blades and Gers fans? Can Rothwell put the Ibrox ghosts to bed for good? Drop your thoughts below and use #RothwellRedemption if you’re talking about it on X tonight.
