Derby matches aren’t all the time fairly. The weeks of build-up and vociferous native assist usually makes its manner right down to the pitch, affecting gamers, workers and officers alike.
However, it’s one of many causes we love them – and one of many causes derby matches are sometimes televised. A zero-nil with three crimson playing cards, a touchline bust-up and a hostile environment can usually be extra memorable than a routine 1-0 win.
So, with the assistance of the workforce at rivals. Soccer, now we have compiled a listing of English soccer’s dirtiest derby matches – those nearly assured to end in a flurry of playing cards.
To qualify, a derby must have been performed a minimum of 5 occasions this century. Rankings embrace league, cup and play-off matches performed between 1 January 2000 and 31 Could 2026. Friendlies excluded.
RankDerby# matches# yellows# reds# cardsCards per game1Oxford United v Swindon Town12598675.5832Port Vale v Stoke City5260265.2003Newcastle United v Sunderland2814051455.1794Luton City v Watford9403434.7785Derby County v Nottingham Forest37163111744.7036Everton v Liverpool57241202614.5797Millwall v West Ham United7293324.5718Reading v Swindon Town6243274.5009Cardiff Metropolis v Swansea City21886944.47610Huddersfield City v Leeds United21894934.42911Blackburn Rovers v Burnley17714754.41212Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur62260122724.38713Bradford Metropolis v Leeds United6251264.33314Aston Villa v Birmingham City22923954.31815Chester v Wrexham18725774.27816Brighton and Hove Albion v Crystal Palace2710461104.074=17Ipswich City v Norwich City2911151164.000=17Portsmouth v Southampton12462484.00019Blackpool v Preston North End12461473.91720Grimsby City v Scunthorpe United11403433.90921Manchester Metropolis v Manchester United63234122463.90522AFC Wimbledon v MK Dons18664703.88923Bolton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic3312711283.879=24Colchester United v Southend United18627693.833=24Mansfield City v Notts County24902923.83326Sheffield United v Sheffield Wednesday25905953.80027Coventry Metropolis v Leicester City22737803.63628Lincoln Metropolis v Scunthorpe United17583613.58829Chelsea v Fulham4012071273.17530Exeter Metropolis v Plymouth Argyle26753783.00031West Bromwich Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers18511522.88932Oxford United v Reading7190192.71433Bristol Metropolis v Bristol Rovers7170172.429
Prime 5 dirtiest derbies
For our checklist of high 5 dirtiest derbies, we’ll solely have a look at these which have produced a number of crimson playing cards – apologies to Port Vale and Stoke Metropolis, that cuts you from the checklist.
5. Everton v Liverpool
Variety of matches this century: 57
Yellow playing cards: 241
Purple playing cards: 20
Playing cards per sport: 4.579
I don’t suppose many individuals shall be shocked to see the Merseyside derby on this checklist. As a impartial it appears that evidently there’s all the time one thing to play for in these derbies – whether or not it’s a knockout cup sport or Liverpool competing for the title (or Everton preventing to remain up), the enormity of the event usually interprets to playing cards.
One extremely spectacular stat – the Merseyside derby is among the most performed in English soccer and averages multiple crimson card each three video games.
4. Derby County v Nottingham Forest
Variety of matches this century: 37
Yellow playing cards: 163
Purple playing cards: 11
Playing cards per sport: 4.703
The East Midlands derby might not obtain the identical nationwide consideration as Liverpool-Everton or Newcastle-Sunderland, however referees hardly ever get a quiet afternoon when Derby and Forest meet. 11 crimson playing cards in simply 37 matches, coupled with an unbelievable 163 yellows, clarify simply what sort of sport followers are in for when these groups meet.
3. Luton City v Watford
Variety of matches this century: 9
Yellow playing cards: 40
Purple playing cards: 3
Playing cards per sport: 4.778
Regardless of solely a handful of matches, the Beds-Herts derby retains referees working additional time! 3 crimson playing cards in simply 9 matches makes a powerful 33% likelihood of a sending off. 40 yellow playing cards will preserve refs busy too.
2. Newcastle United v Sunderland
Variety of matches this century: 28
Yellow playing cards: 140
Purple playing cards: 5
Playing cards per sport: 5.179
One of many largest derbies in English soccer can also be one of many dirtiest. Anybody who has spent any time within the North East will know the way passionate each units of followers are. That zeal clearly spills over onto the pitch with a mean of over 5 playing cards per Tyne-Put on Derby.
1. Oxford United v Swindon City
Variety of matches this century: 12
Yellow playing cards: 59
Purple playing cards: 8
Playing cards per sport: 5.583
Arms up, you didn’t have the A420 Derby as probably the most card-happy within the UK, did you?
However, regardless of solely being performed 12 occasions this century, the ties between Oxford and Swindon produce an absolute flurry of playing cards. 8 crimson playing cards in 12 matches is an outstanding stat – that’s the identical because the Sheffield derby and Devon derby mixed, however they’ve been performed 59 occasions!
I’ll undoubtedly be tuning in subsequent time these groups meet within the league (fingers-crossed that Swindon get promoted subsequent season)!
Dirtiest derby matches
136 of 738 derbies this century have seen a minimum of one crimson card (18%). Extremely 28 have seen no playing cards brandished in any respect (4%). However we’re not keen on these – let’s take a extra detailed have a look at the person matches which have produced probably the most playing cards.
Most crimson playing cards
3 crimson playing cards: Swindon City v Studying
Swindon City 0-0 Studying
14th February, 2002
Soccer League Division 2
Valentine’s Day. Sensible. No love was clearly misplaced between the native rivals who served up no objectives, however 3 crimson playing cards. Prime of the desk Studying began the enjoyable when Sammy Igor was despatched off simply earlier than half time for lashing out midfielder Bobby Howe.
The house facet then had 2 males despatched off on the finish of the sport, with Paul McAreavey despatched off within the final minute after a nasty deal with. He was joined for a (barely) early tub in damage time as Swindon’s Alan Reeves was dismissed for kicking out at Jamie Cureton. The referee wanted a police escort to depart the pitch. Superb stuff.
3 crimson playing cards: Colchester United v Southend United
Colchester United 3-0 Southend United
twenty fifth November, 2006
Soccer League Championship
The Essex derby again in 2006 produced 3 crimson playing cards with Southend ending the sport with 9 males and Colchester with 10. Southend have been diminished to 10 after which 9 early within the second half after Kevin Maher and Mark Gower noticed crimson in fast succession. Colchester then took a 2 purpose lead earlier than Chris Barker was additionally dismissed earlier than Jamie Cureton added a 3rd for the hosts. 3 objectives and three crimson playing cards – sound like an incredible derby (until you’re a Southend fan).
Most playing cards total
12 playing cards: Liverpool v Everton
Liverpool 3-1 Everton
twenty fifth March, 2006
Premier League
10 yellow playing cards and two reds on this Merseyside traditional. Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard was despatched off for 2 bookable offences and Everton’s Andy van der Meyde for an elbow as each groups completed the sport with 10 males.
12 playing cards: Everton v Liverpool
Everton 2-3 Liverpool
sixteenth April, 2001
Premier League
The second of our three 12-card encounters can also be from the Merseyside derby. This one had all of it – 1 crimson card, 2 penalties, 5 objectives, an damage time winner and 11 bookings. A Merseyside traditional.
12 playing cards: AFC Wimbledon v MK Dons
AFC Wimbledon 1-0 MK Dons
2nd March, 2024
Soccer League Two
Not thought-about a derby by some followers, conferences between AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons carry a deep-rooted hatred on account of MK Dons’ formation in 2004. The membership relocated Wimbledon to Milton Keynes and altered its title, a controversial transfer just like the franchise mannequin utilized in American sport. Wimbledon needed to reform as AFC Wimbledon and joined the Soccer League after an unbelievable run of 5 promotions in 9 years.
With this historical past, it’s no shock that conferences between the groups are sometimes full-blooded affairs. The match in March 2024 noticed a complete of 12 yellow playing cards handed out, 6 for every workforce. It was topped off with an damage time winner by Wimbledon substitute Ronan Curtis (who was then booked for his celebration).
You’ll be able to preserve up-to-date with all the main rivalries and sync fixtures to your calendar at rivals.soccer.
