Neil Warnock handed Derek McInnes Aberdeen reunion 22 years after brutal 'Battle of Bramall Lane'

McInnes will take Kilmarnock to Pittodrie, where he enjoyed a successful spell in the dugout between 2013 and 2021, in the last eight of the Scottish Cup next month.

The Scottish Cup quarter final clash between Aberdeen and Kilmarnock will see two managers come face to face for the first time in 12 years.

Interim Pittodrie boss Neil Warnock's Dons will host Derek McInnes' Killie on the weekend of March 9/10. The two gaffers will be in opposing dugouts for the first time since September 2012, where Warnock's Leeds United side came out on top in a thrilling 3-2 victory against McInnes' Bristol City in the English Championship. The duo were set to pit their wits against each other once again in the return fixture later that season, only for McInnes to be relieved of his duties seven days before the game in January 2013.

But the most high-profile encounter involving the two managers came over a decade earlier, when McInnes was still lacing up his boots for West Brom. In an infamous encounter which was latter dubbed "The Battle of Bramall Lane," on March, 16, 2002 a second tier match between Sheffield United and West Brom had to be abandoned due to the small number of players left on the field.

After just nine minutes of play, Blades keeper Simon Tracey was the first player to be given his marching orders after deliberately handling the ball outside his area to prevent a shot at goal. That sending off gave the visitors the initiative, and after striker Scott Dobie had given Albion a first half lead, club captain McInnes made it 2-0 after 63 minutes with a thunderous drive from outside the area.

Just two minutes later, the game then descended into chaos when two more Sheffield United players, who had only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes, also saw red. Cape Verde international Georges Santos was sent off for a shocking lunge on Albion's Andy Johnson before fellow sub Patrick Suffo was also dismissed for headbutting McInnes during a massive brawl.

The incident left McInnes requiring stitches to stop the blood pouring from his head. As the game wore on, tackles continued to fly in on both sides, but surprisingly no more red cards were dished out by referee Eddie Wolstenholme. However, late injuries picked up by Michael Brown and Robert Ullathorne left the Sheffield United pair unable to continue, and with no substitutions remaining the home side were left with six players on the field, leaving Wolstenholme no choice but to call the game off.

West Brom boss Gary Megson was left astounded by the events of the game in his interview with the press after the match. and even accused Warnock and his players of cheating. He said: "There will be no replay. If we are called back to Bramall Lane, we shall kick-off and then walk off the pitch. 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.

"As far as I am concerned we won that game 3-0. They were being told by certain people to go down and come off the field. I was infuriated with what I saw down there. Michael Brown wasn't injured as he ran straight down the tunnel."

Veteran manager Warnock has been renowned for his cheeky quips and comments in the media, and also refuted the allegations of cheating : "I was ever so pleased with the efforts of my lads. Obviously I'm disappointed with certain incidents that happened in the game but I don't think it should ever have developed into the way it did.

"Michael (Brown) had a groin injury and should have came off at half-time. I won't comment on those accusations because they are scratching at straws."

Five days later, West Brom were awarded a 3–0 victory by The Football League, with Sheffield United being fined £10,000. Santos and Suffo both received six match bans and never played for the club again, and while Warnock was cleared of deliberately trying to end the game, he was fined £300 for improper conduct before the fourth official. Brown's injury did turn out to be genuine, with the midfielder ruled out for the rest of the season.

The "Battle of Bramall Lane" is the only professional football match in English history to be called off due to the shortage of players left on the pitch, and while we aren't likely to see a repeat of those horrendous scenes when Killie head up to the Granite City next month, let's hope we see fireworks for all the right reasons.

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