Battle of Bramall Lane
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Bramall Lane is the informal name given to an English First Division
football
match between Sheffield United
and West Bromwich Albion
at United's Bramall Lane
ground on 16 March 2002. The match was unusual in that it was abandoned due to Sheffield United having only six players left on the pitch.
season remaining, Albion lay in third place in the First Division on 67 points, 11 points behind rivals Wolves
, who occupied the second automatic promotion spot. United meanwhile were in 15th position on 50 points, safe from relegation but not threatening the playoff places.
, was sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area and denying Albion a clear goalscoring opportunity. Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock
sent on a new keeper, Wilko de Vogt
, taking off Peter Ndlovu
. The visiting WBA scored a first-half goal through Scott Dobie
against the 10-man United, and added a second goal in the 62nd minute through Derek McInnes
.
The match turned truly ugly in the 65th minute, when Georges Santos
, whom United had just brought on seconds earlier, was sent off for a high and poorly timed two-footed lunging tackle on Andy Johnson
. With hindsight, one could have anticipated fireworks between the two; when Johnson was playing for Nottingham Forest
the previous season, he had fractured Santos' cheekbone and seriously damaged his eye socket with a swinging elbow. The two teams then scuffled on the pitch; in the melee, another United substitute, Patrick Suffo
, was sent off for head-butting Derek McInnes
. This reduced United to eight men, with no more substitutions left. Soon after, United captain Keith Curle
was fortunate to avoid a sending off after appearing to throw punches at McInnes.
In the 77th minute, WBA added a third goal, Scott Dobie tapping in from short range. Two minutes later, Michael Brown limped off for United, and Robert Ullathorne
went off injured in the 82nd minute, reducing them to six men. The referee, Eddie Wolstenholme
, then abandoned the game with West Brom leading 3–0. The referee would have been aware of the IFA board guideline to law
3 which states "the minimum number of players in a team is left to the discretion of member associations. The Board is of the opinion, however, that a match should not continue if there are fewer than seven players in either team." Brown was ruled out for the rest of the season due to the injury sustained during this match, despite the allegations that Neil Warnock ordered the player to feign injury to get the game abandoned.
After the match, The FA
launched an investigation; they could have chosen to let the result stand, or order a replay. Eventually, The FA fined United £
10,000. The Football League
, following The FA's recommendation, let the match result stand. Warnock escaped punishment, as no evidence was mentioned in Wolstenholme's match report. Santos and Suffo were immediately transfer listed and never played for United again.
Megson also escaped punishment for his comments made to the press accusing Warnock of faking injuries to end the game.
West Bromwich Albion went on to clinch automatic promotion on the final day of the season with a 2–0 win over Crystal Palace
. Sheffield United finished in 13th place.
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
match between Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
and West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
at United's Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
ground on 16 March 2002. The match was unusual in that it was abandoned due to Sheffield United having only six players left on the pitch.
Background
With eight league matches of the 2001–20022001-02 in English football
The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...
season remaining, Albion lay in third place in the First Division on 67 points, 11 points behind rivals Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, who occupied the second automatic promotion spot. United meanwhile were in 15th position on 50 points, safe from relegation but not threatening the playoff places.
Match summary
Nine minutes in, United's keeper, Simon TraceySimon Tracey
Simon Peter Tracey is an English former professional football player who played as a goalkeeper. He is now goalkeeping coach at Barnsley.Playing Career=...
, was sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area and denying Albion a clear goalscoring opportunity. Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
sent on a new keeper, Wilko de Vogt
Wilko de Vogt
Wilko de Vogt is a Dutch football goalkeeper who currently plays for VVV-Venlo in the Netherlands....
, taking off Peter Ndlovu
Peter Ndlovu
Peter Ndlovu is a Zimbabwean footballer, who plays as a striker.-Coventry City:Ndlovu was originally spotted by John Sillett, prior to his official signing from Highlanders by Terry Butcher in July 1991...
. The visiting WBA scored a first-half goal through Scott Dobie
Scott Dobie
Robert Scott Dobie is a professional footballer. He is a centre-forward.Although born in England, Dobie has played for Scotland at international level. He has previously played for Carlisle United, Clydebank, West Bromwich Albion, Millwall, Nottingham Forest, St...
against the 10-man United, and added a second goal in the 62nd minute through Derek McInnes
Derek McInnes
Derek John McInnes is a former Scottish football player and current manager of Bristol City. McInnes featured prominently for Greenock Morton, Rangers, West Bromwich Albion and Dundee United during his playing career. He won two caps for the Scotland national football team while with West...
.
The match turned truly ugly in the 65th minute, when Georges Santos
Georges Santos
Georges "George" Santos is a former French-born Cape Verde professional footballer who played professionally between 1997 and 2009. He notably played for Tranmere Rovers, West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United, Grimsby Town, Ipswich Town and Queens Park Rangers...
, whom United had just brought on seconds earlier, was sent off for a high and poorly timed two-footed lunging tackle on Andy Johnson
Andy Johnson (Welsh footballer)
Andrew James "Andy" Johnson is an English born Welsh international football midfielder who last played for King's Lynn.-Career:He began his career at Norwich City, before joining Nottingham Forest in 1997 for £2.2m...
. With hindsight, one could have anticipated fireworks between the two; when Johnson was playing for Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
the previous season, he had fractured Santos' cheekbone and seriously damaged his eye socket with a swinging elbow. The two teams then scuffled on the pitch; in the melee, another United substitute, Patrick Suffo
Patrick Suffo
Patrick Suffo Kengné is a footballer who is currently signed to Bedworth Liberal FC.- Club career :...
, was sent off for head-butting Derek McInnes
Derek McInnes
Derek John McInnes is a former Scottish football player and current manager of Bristol City. McInnes featured prominently for Greenock Morton, Rangers, West Bromwich Albion and Dundee United during his playing career. He won two caps for the Scotland national football team while with West...
. This reduced United to eight men, with no more substitutions left. Soon after, United captain Keith Curle
Keith Curle
Keith Curle is an English former professional football player, who is currently first team coach at Queens Park Rangers.As a player, he was capped three times by England at senior level.-Playing career:...
was fortunate to avoid a sending off after appearing to throw punches at McInnes.
In the 77th minute, WBA added a third goal, Scott Dobie tapping in from short range. Two minutes later, Michael Brown limped off for United, and Robert Ullathorne
Robert Ullathorne
Robert Ullathorne is former a professional footballer, most recently playing for Conference North side Tamworth, where he played as a defender.He played most of his professional games for Norwich City....
went off injured in the 82nd minute, reducing them to six men. The referee, Eddie Wolstenholme
Eddie Wolstenholme
Edward K. Wolstenholme is an English former football referee who officiated in the Football League and the Premier League. He now lives in Blackburn, Lancashire, and may be remembered as the referee in charge of a football match in 2002 described as the "Battle of Bramall Lane"...
, then abandoned the game with West Brom leading 3–0. The referee would have been aware of the IFA board guideline to law
Laws of the Game
The Laws of the Game are the codified rules that help define association football. These laws are published by the sport's governing body FIFA, with the approval of the International Football Association Board, the body that writes and maintains the laws...
3 which states "the minimum number of players in a team is left to the discretion of member associations. The Board is of the opinion, however, that a match should not continue if there are fewer than seven players in either team." Brown was ruled out for the rest of the season due to the injury sustained during this match, despite the allegations that Neil Warnock ordered the player to feign injury to get the game abandoned.
Match details
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Aftermath
Albion manager Megson stated after the match:After the match, The FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
launched an investigation; they could have chosen to let the result stand, or order a replay. Eventually, The FA fined United £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
10,000. The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, following The FA's recommendation, let the match result stand. Warnock escaped punishment, as no evidence was mentioned in Wolstenholme's match report. Santos and Suffo were immediately transfer listed and never played for United again.
Megson also escaped punishment for his comments made to the press accusing Warnock of faking injuries to end the game.
West Bromwich Albion went on to clinch automatic promotion on the final day of the season with a 2–0 win over Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
. Sheffield United finished in 13th place.
External links
- Battle of Bramall Lane - BBC News, 2002-03-16
- Match report from Sheffield United F.C. official site
- Match statistics at Soccerbase