Warnock sees red as Leeds hold Blades

Sheffield United 1 Leeds 1

The 57-year-old became enraged by Leeds defender Gary Kelly’s late tackle on Craig Short shortly before the interval. Kelly had already been booked moments earlier and when Warnock used a range of expletives to express his anger to Leeds counterpart Kevin Blackwell, he was sent off by referee Graham Poll.

However, the Blades boss refused to go quietly and it took almost 60 seconds for a police officer to forcibly remove Warnock from the touchline and usher him into the stands.

The incident completely overshadowed an exhilarating Yorkshire derby which saw Eirik Bakke open the scoring with a spectacular own-goal after 10 minutes.

David Healy drew Leeds level after 42 minutes before old wounds between Warnock and his former Bramall Lane assistant Blackwell reopened.

This was supposed to be one of the proudest nights of Warnock’s career, the Sheffield-born lifelong Blades fan having guided the club back to the top flight after a 12-year exile.

And with 10 minutes played, the script was being played out in Warnock’s favour as United forged ahead, albeit in somewhat fortuitous circumstances.

David Unsworth swung a dangerous inswinging corner over from the right flank but instead of simply nodding the ball clear at the near post, Bakke headed past Neil Sullivan.

It was a dreadful error from the Norwegian and the lively Danny

Webber threatened to make it 2-0 soon after with a curling effort which drew an alert save from Sullivan.

The attacking trio of Webber, Ade Akinbiyi and Steve Kabba continually asked questions of the Leeds rearguard.

But Leeds were level after 42 minutes when Healy cut in from the left flank and curled a delightful left foot effort into the bottom corner from 19 yards.

SHEFF UTD: Kenny, Short, Unsworth, Geary, Lucketti, Jagielka, Kabba (Dyer 82), Montgomery (Armstrong 60), Tonge, Akinbiyi, Webber (Ifill 79).

LEEDS: Sullivan, Kelly, Crainey, Butler, Kilgallon, Miller, Bakke (Pugh 80), Derry, Hulse, Douglas, Healy (Moore 79).

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

Last night’ results: Coca-Cola Football League One: Huddersfield 1 Chesterfield 2

Two: Shrewsbury 4 Rushden & D’monds 1

Bell’s Scottish Football League Championship Second Division: Dumbarton 0 Gretna 2.