United had goalkeeper Simon Tracey sent off for deliberately handling the ball outside the area in the 9th minute. Albion striker Scott Dobie gave them the lead going into half-time, and midfielder Derek McInnes doubled the lead in the 63rd minute, prompting United manager Neil Warnock to make two substitutions; Santos and Patrick Suffo came on, but both men received red cards within moments. Santos committed a dangerous two-footed tackle on Johnson, and Suffo headbutted McInnes in the ensuing melee. Down to eight men, United conceded a third goal, with Dobie scoring his second of the afternoon. United midfielder Michael Brown and defender Robert Ullathorne went off injured, and referee Eddie Wolstenholme, who had already refused to send off both Brown and captain Keith Curle for clear red-card offences, was forced to abandon the match in the 82nd minute as dictated by the rules of the game.