Sheffield United v West Brom: Remembering the 'Battle of Bramall Lane'
Three goals, three red cards, two players hobbling off and an abandoned game of football - Darren Moore will remember Bramall Lane very well.
Played in March 2002, Moore featured in West Brom's trip to Sheffield that year, which went down in the history books as the 'Battle of Bramall Lane', an apt name for what was, and remains to be, one of the most astounding games of football in Albion history.
The game was eventful from the get-go, with police needing to form a barrier to prevent the travelling Baggies fans from invading the pitch ahead of kick-off, but that was just the beginning of an eventful afternoon in Yorkshire.
Less than ten minutes into the fixture, Neil Warnock's side were a man down, courtesy of goalkeeper Simon Tracy's handball outside the area.
Things went downhill even further for the hosts on the 18th minute, with Scott Dobie heading home Albion's first of the game off a pinpoint Andy Johnson cross.
Skipper Derek McInnes doubled West Brom's lead just after an hour with a wonder strike, triggering one of the strangest 20 minute periods seen on a football pitch.
His goal led to a double substitution from Warnock, bringing on Patrick Suffo and Georges Santos in an effort to wrestle some control of the game. The latter of course, having previous with Andy Johnson, who had broken the Cape Verde international's eye-socket in an accidental collision whilst playing for Nottingham Forest.
Many expected a heated clash between Santos and Johnson - but few could predict what would happen just one minute after coming onto the field.
Santos immediately flew into a horror challenge on the midfielder, earning himself a red card less than 90 seconds after coming on. But the action was only just beginning, with Suffo then head-butting McInnes - also getting himself an early shower in the process.
Darren Moore was visibly enraged by Suffo's actions, with only Blades forward Laurent D'Jaffo restraining the central defender from reigniting the confrontation further.
With United down to eight men, Moore then had a part to play in the third goal of the game, nodding a corner back across the box for Dobie to net his second on the 77th minute.
Then injury struck the Blades' ranks, with Michael Brown forced off with more than 20 minutes left, leaving the hosts with just seven men on the field.
It took just three more minutes until the game was officially abandoned, with defender Rob Ullathorne helped off, leaving referee Eddie Wolstenholme with no option to end the game short in a result eventually rewarded to Albion after much debate.
Whats more, there was also reported trouble between players in the tunnel following the abandonment, with reports stating that Wolstenholme was close to tears.
Then-boss Gary Megson famously stated that his team would not be participating in a replay following the abandonment.
"There will be no replay. If we are called back to Bramall Lane we shall kick-off and then walk off the pitch." he said.
"I've been in professional football since 16 and I'm 42 now. I've never ever witnessed anything as disgraceful as that.
"There is no place for that in any game of football, let alone professional football."
Sheffield United were eventually fined £10,000 for their part in the game. Suffo earned a £3,000 fine and a six-match ban, whilst Georges Santos also accrued a ban of the same length - neither featured for the Blades following the memorable encounter.
Meanwhile, Keith Curle was retrospectively banned for two games and racked up at £500 fine for his involvement in the fracas - with Neil Warnock charged with improper conduct toward the fourth official - paying a £300 fine of his own.
Fans will fondly remember Albion going on to secure automatic promotion that season, while United finished in mid-table - however, few will have forgotten the feisty encounter, although none will want to witness a repeat this week.
If this week's clash offers even a fraction of the drama, it's sure to be one to remember nonetheless...
