Dirty Shirty Wycombe or Shucks, the cleanest team in South Bucks
BY OPTA

Despite gaining a creditable draw at the New Den last week, the travelling Wycombe fans saw Jason Cousins sent off for the second time this season. It was Wanderers' fifth red card of the season, to go with their 31 yellow cards. It led to much debate amongst Chairboys fans as to whether Wycombe were an undisciplined side, or simply hard done by.

But Opta can reveal that in fact, Lawrie Sanchez's outfit are only 46th out of the 72 league clubs in the latest discipline table produced by the London-based statisticians. 

In comparison, last week's opponents are top of the pile, with a massive 607 disciplinary points. While Millwall may have had only three red cards, they have amassed 55 yellows and committed 424 fouls. And that fact gets to the heart of the matter because unlike many discipline tables, the Opta one can use the fact that every foul and handball is logged, giving a fairer reflection of the truth.



Tuesday's match at arch-rivals Colchester United should be tempestuous anyway, but looking at the U's record this season it seems that the referee will have his work cut out. Steve Whitton's side have committed 367 fouls, 74 more than the Chairboys and are an unhealthy 11th in the table.

In contrast, Saturday's foes Scunthorpe United are one of the cleanest teams in Division Two, having had just one red card and 21 yellows. Interestingly, they have committed more fouls than Wycombe but with less consequence. This certainly adds weight to the argument that Wanderers have been hard done by this season. And with a FA fine hanging over the club, matters such as these matter.

Finally, praise is due to Crewe Alexandra, who have had just 13 yellows all season and no men sent off. They are far and away the fairest team In the Nationwide Football League, a testament to the work of long-serving manager Dario Gradi.

Duncan Alexander


Statistics courtesy of Carling Opta

up to and including 9th January 2000