Dave Bassett was set to come up against old pal Lennie Lawrence as Sheffield United were chasing crucial survival points against Middlesborough later that day. The two London born friends shared the same clubs at Wimbledon and Charlton for seven years.
But the blades were bottom of the table and were looking to drag the Tee side club into the mire to get themselves out of it. Lawrence was worried about the injuries to Derek Whyte and Paul Wilkinson but admitted it was the same case for both the managers.