It seems like an occurrence that can only happen in a video game where the referee has to abandon the game due to a lack of players on the pitch for a certain team.
📅 #OTD in 2002, the Battle of Bramall Lane happened. That tackle from George Santos, though… 😅 #wba pic.twitter.com/1MmtcBsowo
— The Baggies Bible (@TheBaggiesBible) March 16, 2020
But ask any West Brom fan, and they will tell you such an incident can happen as that is exactly what happened to them in the infamous ‘Battle of Bramall Lane’, which took place during in the 2001/02 Championship season. It was a game so bonkers and bloody that it even has it’s own Wikipedia page.
Will West Brom be in the Premier League next season?
Yes
No
The match was abandoned after 82 minutes with West Brom awarded a 3-0 win by default as Sheffield United had three players sent off, whilst two others were forced off due to injuries with Neil Warnock having already used all three substitutes. And some Albion supporters on social media still recall the infamous match.
Here’s what a few had to say on Twitter about the game of ugly scenes and a default victory 18 years ago…
Still wince at it
— James Creasey (@JamesCreasey1) March 16, 2020
Flying without wings !
— Dickos (@RichardHenbury) March 17, 2020
I was there
— Nick Aston MBA FRAeS (@NickAston6) March 16, 2020
Remember it well, the stands emptying and trying to get into the away end at the end of the game 🤔 hated warnock then and even more after
— shaun hunt (@shaun_hunt) March 16, 2020
I feared for the bloke facing up to Big Dave !! 😂😮 #WBA #BoingBoing
— Stevo Walton (@Stevotop) March 16, 2020
How was that man allowed to carry on managing……disgraceful
— Kenny Burns (@kennnyburns) March 16, 2020
It turned out to be a vital three points for West Brom that season, as the Baggies went on and claimed promotion into the Premier League after finishing the term in second place.