Nine minutes into the match, United's goalkeeper, Simon Tracey, was sent off by the referee, Eddie Wolstenholme, for deliberately handling the ball outside the penalty area and denying Albion an obvious goalscoring opportunity. Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock sent on the substitute keeper, Wilko de Vogt, taking off striker Peter Ndlovu. Albion defender Lárus Sigurðsson was the recipient of a yellow card shortly after. Albion scored a first-half goal through a header by striker Scott Dobie following a cross by Andy Johnson. Albion were unable to take advantage of having an extra man until the 62nd minute, when captain Derek McInnes scored their second with a powerful shot struck first-time from outside the area, De Vogt unable to reach it. Warnock responded by making two substitutions in an attempt to be more attacking, taking off Gus Uhlenbeek and Michael Tonge for Georges Santos and Patrick Suffo.