The MASS BRAWL between Leeds United and Doncaster Rovers that left Neil Warnock 'buzzing' in 2012

Ex-Leeds United goalkeeper Andy Lonergan has detailed a mass brawl after a match with Doncaster Rovers in February 2012 – including Neil Warnock, El Hadji Diouf and Paddy Kisnorbo waving a shovel around.
This is how the MASS BRAWL between Leeds and Doncaster Rovers that left Neil Warnock 'buzzing' unfolded in 2012This is how the MASS BRAWL between Leeds and Doncaster Rovers that left Neil Warnock 'buzzing' unfolded in 2012
This is how the MASS BRAWL between Leeds and Doncaster Rovers that left Neil Warnock 'buzzing' unfolded in 2012

Luciano Becchio netted a dramatic late winner as Whites came from two goals down to stun Doncaster in what was Neil Warnock’s first game as manager.

The hosts fell quickly behind to a Mamadou Bagayoko double, but goals from Andros Townsend, Adam Clayton and Becchio handed the Whites a memorable win.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The late drama then sparked a considerable melee in the Elland Road tunnel during the aftermath which was allegedly sparked by Diouf.

Speaking to the UnderTheCosh Podcast, Londergan picked up the story: “That game, I think it might have been [Neil] Warnock’s first game, so he’s got all of the lads fired up and Browny [Chris Brown] is at Donny. They had [El Hadji] Diouf, [Pascal] Chimbonda and all of these guys.

“[Leeds United] had Darren O’Dea, who was a loose cannon, Ross McCormack and Snoddy [Robert Snodgrass], some mad guys in that team!

“So on the pitch, I think we scored in the last minute and we won 3-2 and it was absolute carnage. At the end [of the match], I’ve gone to the fans and Darren O’Dea is having a thing with El Hadji Diouf, I thnk Diouf at spat at him or scratched him on the way past.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“But at Elland Road, the tunnel comes out like one of those folding tunnels, so as I’m coming back in chatting to someone I can see the tunnel going from side to side, so I sprinted in and it is carnage!

"There was a proper brawl, so it’s one-on-one red and white shirts just scrapping but there’s a bit of a gap and I’ve seen Chimbonda, and I’ve thought, ‘I don’t like him, me! And I don’t even know him.’

“So I’ve just ran over and just gone for it with him! I’ve got him in a headlock, and Browny is at Doncaster playing for Doncaster and Browny’s shouting, ‘Go on, son!’

“I had him against the wall like that but I had his braids in my hand, so he is screaming and I’m squashing his face! But one of Chimbonda’s mates has got me from behind, so now it’s two v one.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Martin, the security guard at Leeds, who is proper handy, he’s just come and picked them both up by the neck and dashed them away.

“And then we’ve gone into the dressing room and Warnock is buzzing, he was buzzing! He loved it! But we didn’t get let out of the dressing room for ages and the police came and Darren O’Dea had to go to the police station.

Lonergan, who now plays for Liverpool, went onto say: “Carnage! It was carnage! Paddy Kisnorbo had a shovel and was just banging people with this shovel!”