BLACKBURN referee Eddie Wolstenholme found himself in the eye of the storm at Bramall Lane as he was forced to abandon the match between Sheffield United and West Brom.

The official led the players off the pitch after the Blades, who were trailing 3-0, were reduced to six men by three dismissals and two injuries.

But having reflected on the events and submitted his report he insisted: "There was nothing I could do, I had no option."

Wolstenholme is in his tenth year as a league official and he admitted: "I have never had to abandon a game in those circumstances.

"I know people think that referees like sending people off, but we don't. Having said that I think I got all three right.

"The keeper had to go because it was a clear goalscoring opportunity. Then there was nothing in the game until the two Sheffield subs came on.

"I sent off George Santos because he launched himself at Johnson in a dreadful two footed challenge, it was serious foul play.

"Derek McInnes was trying to calm things down and Patrick Suffo came over and butted him in the face. It was clear violent conduct and again I had no option.

"After that they had one man, Michael Brown, go off injured and in the 81st minute another - Rob Ullathorne - went down.

"I pointed out that if he went off they would be down to six men and I would have to abandon the game but he did so that was it. The rules don't allow for anything else."

Both Blades boss Neil Warnock and Baggies manager Gary Megson went to see Wolstenholme after the game and the details of those meetings have been included in his report.

"I have spent more than two hours doing everything I have to after a game," he admitted. "I have got one year left and I don't think I will ever be involved in anything like it again.

"It is not up to me whether West Brom keep the points, the FA deals with discipline and the Football League will decide about the points.

"But if they did decide the match had to be replayed I would do it, it doesn't bother me. Someone asked if I had thought about retiring but why should I because of one game."

The Football League will discuss the abandonment at a board meeting on Thursday. League spokesman John Nagle said: "The Football League have the authority to allow the result to stand, or to order the game to be replayed.

"The matter will be discussed at the league's board meeting on Thursday, following a full examination of the relevant information."