Paul Heckingbottom was disappointed with his captain Angus MacDonald for being sent off in the 1-0 loss at Sheffield United, while he also bemoaned his side's 'lack of quality.'

MacDonald reacted to being grabbed on the throat by Blade Leon Clarke with a headbutt as both players were sent off at 1-0 late in the first half. The skipper will now miss next Saturday's home game against Sunderland as well the trips to Preston and Reading after the international break if, as expected, he is banned for three games.

Head coach Heckingbottom said: "They were both sendings off. Leon had Angus by the throat and Angus did try to pull away to start but Leon kept hold of his throat and Angus reacted. I have seen him shove his head in his face. I am definitely disappointed with Angus.

"We've had our captain sent off but it's an opportunity for someone else. If he doesn't get back in the team that is brilliant because it means that someone else had come and done better than him. "

Heckingbottom was frustrated as his side conceded an early Billy Sharp goal then failed to register a shot on target with goalkeeper Adam Davies keeping the score down. But he said he knows most of his squad are adapting to the Championship after summer moves from much lower leagues. He also said the disappointing display would not change his plans in the last two weeks of the transfer window.

"We didn't test their goalkeeper at all. The quality on the ball wasn't there and we were on the back foot without the ball. We just weren't good enough. There weren't many who came out of it with a lot of positives. The workrate was still fantastic and we still had the chance to pinch a point and it would have been pinching a point.

"Where we recruit from and then ask the boys to jump up to, it's massive. So we have to be patient with them and encourage them to be better because we know they can be.  We have seen it happen before."

Heckingbottom kept the same team for the first time as a Championship manager after good performances in the home games against Ipswich and Nottingham Forest. He said: "It was disappointing. Compared to the last two last two performances it was chalk and cheese. The players know that. I asked them what has cost us and they know it. It was the start of the game.

"We were on the back foot instead of the front and it was a game too far for us today. I have never played the same team three games in a row in the Championship. But we did it because we need to set a benchmark of performance and I need to learn about these players as well. It was the first derby for a lot of them and the first time we have played three games in a week. I wanted to see what they were all about. The other thing is that if I freshen it up and bring in Jared Bird, Harvey Barnes and Ike Ugbo, we have a team of 18 or 19 year olds."