Featured Image Credit: PA Images
Topics: Leeds United, Premier League
Rory O'Callaghan
Leeds United reached the unwanted landmark of a century of cards in a single Premier League season during their defeat to Chelsea, just days after setting a new league record for ill-discipline.
The Yorkshire club, who are labelled as 'Dirty Leeds' by fans of their rivals, have well and truly lived up to that nickname in recent months as they battle against relegation.
On Wednesday night, they were reduced to 10 men against Chelsea when Dan James was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Mateo Kovacic.
Kalvin Phillips was also booked for Leeds as Chelsea ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Elland Road.
Defeat for Jesse Marsch's side leaves them in the relegation zone with just two games remaining in their season.
Advert
James' red card and Phillips caution were Leeds' 99th and 100th cards of the 2021-22 Premier League campaign.
Leeds have now been awarded 97 yellow cards and 3 reds over the course of the season and had already broken the record for the most cards in a top-flight campaign prior to the Chelsea game.
Days earlier, in their match against Arsenal, Leeds became the first team in Premier League history to reach 98 cards in a season – breaking the previous record of 97, set by Derby County in the 1999-2000 campaign.
Advert
Raphinha and Mateusz Klich were both booked in United’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal, with Luke Ayling shown a straight red card for a two-footed challenge on Gabriel Martinelli.
Speaking after the defeat to Chelsea, Marsch admitted his side must improve their discipline if they are to avoid the drop.
"The guys are gutted because we’re not giving ourselves the chances we want to come into the match. That part hurts," he said.
Advert
"In general, if you go down to the performances, it's not that they’ve been great, but it hasn’t been horrible.
"It's just the level of the opponents and playing with a man down for 60 minutes in two matches limits your ability to win the game."
Leeds now have two matches to save their season, with their penultimate match coming against Brighton on Sunday before they face Brentford on the final day.