Retro: Sheffield United left with SIX players against West Brom in Battle of Bramall Lane - March 16, 2002

Probably the most amazing scenes ever at Bramall Lane unfolded on Saturday March 16 2002.
Players from Sheffield United and West Brom argue with each other during the Nationwide League Division One match at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane ground, Saturday March 16, 2002Players from Sheffield United and West Brom argue with each other during the Nationwide League Division One match at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane ground, Saturday March 16, 2002
Players from Sheffield United and West Brom argue with each other during the Nationwide League Division One match at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane ground, Saturday March 16, 2002

Neil Warnock’s Sheffield United were left with just six players on the field, having had three men sent off two more leaving the field injured, on a day of shame and violence.

And referee Eddie Wolstenholme was forced to abandon the game after 82 minutes with Gary Megson’s West Bromwich Albion leading 3-0.

Sheffield United v West BromSheffield United v West Brom
Sheffield United v West Brom
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It was the first time a match had ever been abandoned in England due to a lack of players.

Here is how the extraordinary events developed:

- Nine minutes: Blades keeper Simon Tracey was sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area, denying Albion a goalscoring opportunity. Warnock sent on substitute goalkeeper Wilko de Vogt, taking off outfield player Peter Odlovu.

- 18 minutes: Scott Dobie gives Albion the lead after Andy Johnson’s pin-point cross.

West Brom player stare in disbelief after their game against Sheffield United, in the Nationwide League Division One match at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane ground, is abandonned. Saturday March 16, 2002West Brom player stare in disbelief after their game against Sheffield United, in the Nationwide League Division One match at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane ground, is abandonned. Saturday March 16, 2002
West Brom player stare in disbelief after their game against Sheffield United, in the Nationwide League Division One match at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane ground, is abandonned. Saturday March 16, 2002

- 63 minutes: A Derek McKinnes wonder strike makes it 2-0 to the visitors.

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- 65 minutes: The match turns ugly. Within a minute of coming on as sub Georges Santos was sent off for a badly-timed two-footed lunge on Johnson. The two had clashed the previous season when Johnson, then with Nottingham Forest, had fractured Santos’ cheekbone and badly damaged his eye socket with a swinging elbow.

- 66 minutes: United players believing Johnson was feigning injury and after the mass brawl that followed Patrick Suffo - who had only come on as sub alongside Santos - was dismissed for headbutting Derek McKinnes. United were down to eight men with no subs left

- 77 minutes: Dobie grabs his second and West Brom’s third from three yards.

Sheffield United's Patrick Suffo  is sent off under pressure.Sheffield United's Patrick Suffo  is sent off under pressure.
Sheffield United's Patrick Suffo is sent off under pressure.

- 79 minutes: Michael Brown limps off injured.

- 82 minutes: Rob Ullathorne also goes off injured. Following FA guidelines “that a match should not continue if there are fewer than seven players left in either team,” ref Wolstenholme abandons the match.

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Amid speculation about the outcome Albion boss Megson declared: “There will be no replay. If we are called back to Bramall Lane we shall kick off and then walk off the pitch.

“I have been in professional football since I was 16 and I’m 42 now. I’ve never, ever witnessed anything in football as disgraceful as that. There is no place for that in any game of football, let alone professional football.”

Patrick Suffo is held back by players.Patrick Suffo is held back by players.
Patrick Suffo is held back by players.

Megson also accused United of deliberately trying to get the game called off.

But Warnock hit back: “To say the two lads who came off for us weren’t injured is absolute nonsense.

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“Michael Brown hadn’t trained for nearly six weeks and had said at half-time he had a problem, but he would give it a go.

“Rob has got a muscle spasm, that’s not a surprise considering all the running around he’s had to do when we’ve been at least a man down for so long.

“People can say what they like. If they have any doubts they can ask the physio.” “I’m not condoning what some of our players did but there are also plenty of things that I’l not happy about either, things that went on before and during the game.”

Our United repoprter James Shield said United were adamant that their opponents should shoulder some of the responsibility. At least two of their players traded punches in the second half melee and one of the visiting substitutes could clearly be seen goading home supporters as tempers flared.

Patrick Suffo is held back by players.Patrick Suffo is held back by players.
Patrick Suffo is held back by players.
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Police were forced to part rival groups of fans both during and after the match.

Neither Santos nor Suffo played for United again. Both were fined the maximum of two weeks wages. Suffo was placed on the transfer list with immediate effect.

The result was allowed to stand and the FA called an inquiry into the match that has been known ever since as: “The Battle of Bramall Lane.”