5 football derbies fans would love to see in the Premier League

Fuel to the fires of a football fan’s imagination, derby matches are what get fans going. And with a wide array of derbies on offer, the Premier League is just what a football fan wants!A match, complete with drama, quality football and soaring tempers, derbies are what the passionate fan wants. Everyone has their individual favourites - cross town rivals, inter-city rivals or just rivals for some sort of reason, as the season progresses one just wants to see their side defeat their fierce rivals on the pitch by any means possible.But with so many rivalries across Britain, both club fans and neutrals alike miss out on some big clashes because their rivals playing in different divisions. We take a look at 5 such derbies that fans would love to see in the Premier League.

#5 Southampton vs Portsmouth

Portsmouth fans show their feelings over the Harry Redknapp move before the FA Cup match against Southampton at St Mary's in January 2005

With only 17miles separating the two clubs, the South Coast rivalry between Southampton and Portsmouth is bound to be intense. Like any other rivalry, clashes between these two mean a lot to the fans associated with the clubs. But unlike other rivals, these two don’t share the same city, have rarely been in the same division and don’t even meet very often.

The club’s have met a total of 139 times with Portsmouth winning 62 and the Saints winning 56 games. These clashes have always had a bitterness attached with it, with even violence witnessed at stadiums. Many players have even crossed the divide, joining the rival club. But as the Portsmouth fans suggest, none as cruelly as Harry Redknapp.

The current QPR manager was then managing Portsmouth and switched to rivals Southampton just days after resigning from Portsmouth – less than a month after defeating the Saints at home. As fate had it, the clubs met later on in the month when they were drawn in the FA Cup where the Saints won by a penalty from ex-Pompey striker Peter Crouch.

The sides again met in the League later at Fratton Park, where banners and chants of ‘Judas’ were aimed at Redknapp, who saw his Southampton side get thrashed 4-1. Sadly, Portsmouth now is in League Two, and the Saints are battling at the top of the Premier League table.

#4 Swansea City vs Cardiff City

Police hold back Cardiff fans after a Carling Cup between Swansea City and Cardiff City at Liberty Stadium

The South Wales derby between Welsh clubs Swansea and Cardiff have been exciting affairs over the years with the teams even battling each other in the Premier League as recently as the 2013/14 season. These ties have been marred by football hooliganism in the last few decades.

In 1988, Swansea fans chased Cardiff supporters into the sea after the Swans won. In 1993, after seeing their side go down by a goal at Ninian Park, Swansea fans ripped off seats and threw them at Cardiff supporters, followed by the home supporters invading the pitch. Following the event, the fixture became the first incident in Britain to see away fans being banned from a match for several years.

Even though police security has been stepped up in recent years, violence and vandalism are a common sight. But all this has the least effect on the quality of football. These games are fast-paced and promise to have a lot of goals. The last meeting earlier this year saw Swansea triumphing 3-0 over Cardiff.

Cardiff went on to get relegated at the end of the 2013/14 season.

#3 West Bromwich Albion vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

A fierce tie which thrives on passion, Baggies vs Wolves has always promised to be an exciting encounter

Voted as the fiercest rivalry in English Football by the fans in a survey by The FootballPool in 2008, the Black Country derby between rivals West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers is one of English football’s oldest and fiercest. Back from the days when the Football League was just formed, the Black Country rivalry between the Baggies and the Wolves existed much before the North London or the Merseyside derby.

The derby is one of the most passionately contested in the country with both clubs being of similar size and similar fan bases. Be it the Hawthorns or the Molineux, these clashes never fail to attract big crowds. The peak of this rivalry was back in the ‘50s when both clubs were challenging each other at the top of the league and were famed for their attacking prowess.

Hooliganism was a problem in these clashes, and even in recent years the police had to intervene to stop rival fans from rioting. The clubs last met in the 2011/12 season, the season Wolverhampton got relegated and never got promoted again.

#2 Manchester United vs Leeds United

‘The Battle of the Roses’ as it is called has always been a heated affair.

A rivalry that originated from the War of Roses in the 15th century between Lancashire and Yorkshire, the cities of Leeds and Manchester have still upheld their traditional rivalries. Matches between these two always promise to be a feisty affair even though the two cities are separated by 40 miles.

Described by the Daily Telegraph as “English football’s most intense and inexplicable rivalry”, Leeds vs Manchester United never fail to produce an exciting clash with a great atmosphere – be it at Old Trafford or Elland Road. This derby has seen all sorts of rivalries between managers and players over the years. The level of bitterness increases among the fans when abusive chants based on the Munich air disaster and the death of Leeds fans at Istanbul are hurled at each other.

Leeds was relegated back in 2003/04 and has never been able to get back to English football’s highest level since. But the clubs have met in recent years in Cup ties, the most recent being in the League Cup in 2011 where the Manchester outfit defeated Leeds at Elland Road by three goals.

A clash between these two old rivals would be one to savour by any fan, but Leeds are currently playing in the Championship.

#1 West Ham United vs Millwall FC

Pitch invasions are a common sight when West Ham play Milwall

One of the most bitterly notorious and fierce rivalries in all of English Football, West Ham and Millwall are clubs on opposite side of the Thames. And saying that the fans hate each other would be an understatement. Sadly, the clubs have rarely been in the same division, so the fans never miss out on the opportunity to have a go at each other whenever they meet each other in Cup ties.

A rivalry since the days of the British industrial revolution, it has witnessed plenty of violence, both on and off the pitch. Pitch invasions are a common sight and violence between the fans have even resulted in deaths, with the most recent meeting in 2009 at the Boleyn Ground witnessing a Millwall fan being stabbed even before the match.

Millwall currently have the edge over West Ham with more wins (4), but clashes are hard to come by as Millwall are in the Championship while the Hammers play in the Premier League. But whenever these two London rivals meet, sparks are sure to fly!