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Winning ugly through time-wasting, cynical fouls, provocation, surrounding the ref, and anything else that bends the rules' spirit. Purists hate it, but it works, especially for underdogs or teams protecting a lead. The term has flipped from insult to badge of honour for some fanbases. Diego Costa made an entire career out of being a world-class shithouse.
Diego Costa epitomized the shithouse forward at Chelsea - he would wrestle defenders, provoke opponents into retaliation, go down theatrically, and generally make himself as unpleasant as possible to play against, all while scoring crucial goals.
Robbie
Jan 13, 2026
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