Championship's dirtiest teams this season

Championship's dirtiest teams this season

Middlesbrough, Millwall & Norwich City's ranking in the shock 'dirtiest' teams Championship table

By Richie Boon

Published 12th May 2021, 16:45 GMT

Updated 12th May 2021, 17:04 GMT

Despite a number of pundits still claiming football is no longer a contact sport, 'Why play the ball when you can play the man?' is a footballing philosophy still rife in the game. Indeed, Championship sides have racked up a whopping 1504 yellow cards between them this season.

Here, we take a look (via WhoScored stats) at the 2020/21 Championship's disciplinary figures including fouls, bookings, red cards, and examine where Middlesbrough rank among every other second-tier side in the 'dirtiest' teams league table.

We've awarded half a point for a foul, one point for a yellow, three for two yellows followed by a red, and five for a straight red. The teams are ranked from dirtiest to cleanest, and we've also included each team's most ill-disciplined player for good measure:

Championship's dirtiest teams this season

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Championship's dirtiest teams this season Photo: Mark Hall/JPI Media

Fouls: 644. Yellow cards: 79. Second yellow then red: 1. Straight red cards: 4. Worst disciplined player: Angus MacDonald.

. Rotherham United - Total score: 424

Fouls: 644. Yellow cards: 79. Second yellow then red: 1. Straight red cards: 4. Worst disciplined player: Angus MacDonald. Photo: Nathan Stirk

Fouls: 682. Yellow cards: 67. Second yellow then red: 3. Straight red cards: 1. Worst disciplined player: Harlee Dean.

. Birmingham City - Total score: 422

Fouls: 682. Yellow cards: 67. Second yellow then red: 3. Straight red cards: 1. Worst disciplined player: Harlee Dean. Photo: Jan Kruger

Fouls: 624. Yellow cards: 71. Second yellow then red: 0. Straight red cards: 4. Worst disciplined player: Josh Knight.

. Wycombe Wanderers - Total score: 403

Fouls: 624. Yellow cards: 71. Second yellow then red: 0. Straight red cards: 4. Worst disciplined player: Josh Knight. Photo: Richard Heathcote

Fouls: 623. Yellow cards: 71. Second yellow then red: 3. Straight red cards: 1. Worst disciplined player: Will Vaulks.

. Cardiff City - Total score: 397

Fouls: 623. Yellow cards: 71. Second yellow then red: 3. Straight red cards: 1. Worst disciplined player: Will Vaulks. Photo: Gareth Copley

Fouls: 626. Yellow cards: 78. Second yellow then red: 2. Straight red cards: 0. Worst disciplined player: Nathaniel Chalobah.

. Watford - Total score: 397

Fouls: 626. Yellow cards: 78. Second yellow then red: 2. Straight red cards: 0. Worst disciplined player: Nathaniel Chalobah. Photo: Marc Atkins

Fouls: 588. Yellow cards: 76. Second yellow then red: 0. Straight red cards: 4. Worst disciplined player: James Chester.

. Stoke City - Total score: 390

Fouls: 588. Yellow cards: 76. Second yellow then red: 0. Straight red cards: 4. Worst disciplined player: James Chester. Photo: Lewis Storey

Fouls: 579. Yellow cards: 66. Second yellow then red: 1. Straight red cards: 6. Worst disciplined player: Barry Bannan.

. Sheffield Wednesday - Total score: 389

Fouls: 579. Yellow cards: 66. Second yellow then red: 1. Straight red cards: 6. Worst disciplined player: Barry Bannan. Photo: Alex Pantling

Fouls: 593. Yellow cards: 66. Second yellow then red: 1. Straight red cards: 3. Worst disciplined player: Tobias Figueiredo.

. Nottingham Forest - Total score: 381

Fouls: 593. Yellow cards: 66. Second yellow then red: 1. Straight red cards: 3. Worst disciplined player: Tobias Figueiredo. Photo: Justin Setterfield

Fouls: 598. Yellow cards: 66. Second yellow then red: 1. Straight red cards: 2. Worst disciplined player: Mads Andersen.

. Barnsley - Total score: 378

Fouls: 598. Yellow cards: 66. Second yellow then red: 1. Straight red cards: 2. Worst disciplined player: Mads Andersen. Photo: Dan Istitene

Fouls: 565. Yellow cards: 77. Second yellow then red: 1. Straight red cards: 2. Worst disciplined player: Robert Dickie.

. QPR - Total score: 373

Fouls: 565. Yellow cards: 77. Second yellow then red: 1. Straight red cards: 2. Worst disciplined player: Robert Dickie. Photo: Stephen Pond

Fouls: 644. Yellow cards: 79. Second yellow then red: 1. Straight red cards: 4. Worst disciplined player: Angus MacDonald.

1. Rotherham United - Total score: 424

Fouls: 644. Yellow cards: 79. Second yellow then red: 1. Straight red cards: 4. Worst disciplined player: Angus MacDonald. Photo: Nathan Stirk

Fouls: 682. Yellow cards: 67. Second yellow then red: 3. Straight red cards: 1. Worst disciplined player: Harlee Dean.

2. Birmingham City - Total score: 422

Fouls: 682. Yellow cards: 67. Second yellow then red: 3. Straight red cards: 1. Worst disciplined player: Harlee Dean. Photo: Jan Kruger

Fouls: 624. Yellow cards: 71. Second yellow then red: 0. Straight red cards: 4. Worst disciplined player: Josh Knight.

3. Wycombe Wanderers - Total score: 403

Fouls: 624. Yellow cards: 71. Second yellow then red: 0. Straight red cards: 4. Worst disciplined player: Josh Knight. Photo: Richard Heathcote

Fouls: 623. Yellow cards: 71. Second yellow then red: 3. Straight red cards: 1. Worst disciplined player: Will Vaulks.

4. Cardiff City - Total score: 397

Fouls: 623. Yellow cards: 71. Second yellow then red: 3. Straight red cards: 1. Worst disciplined player: Will Vaulks. Photo: Gareth Copley

Millwall Norwich City Middlesbrough

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