ONE of the most notorious sets of football fans came to Bournemouth on Tuesday night - but there was no repeat of the scenes of 1990.

Leeds United won 3-1 at Dean Court, 17 years after their last visit when supporters ran riot causing £1m worth of damage to the town.

A major police operation before, during and after the match kept disruption and trouble to a minimum and both the club and officers hailed it a success.

There were just nine arrests, three before kick-off and six later.

Offences included invading the pitch, being drunk, breaching a football banning order and public order.

But to the relief of all, it was much like any other match, apart from the huge police presence in the town.

A police spokesman said Tuesday night's operation had been "robust, intelligence-led and proportionate".

Dorset Police worked closely with club officials in the build-up to the match, which attracted a crowd of 8,599.

Bournemouth fans remembered 1990 as the worst hooliganism they have seen.

Stuart Orchard, 33, from Winton, recalled a man of about 60 being beaten up for his ticket - and the man's grand-daughter getting head-butted.

But on Tuesday, fans of the Yorkshire club were well behaved.

"1990 is all history now," said one.

Violence at the last two Leeds games against Millwall and Carlisle had raised concerns, but they proved unfounded.

The match had been specially arranged as an evening fixture after representations to the football authorities by AFCB and Dorset Police.

Police vans cruised around Boscombe and Springbourne for a time after the final whistle, but were not needed.

By contrast with 1990, the 2,000-plus Leeds fans headed straight home, another three points in the bag.