Norwich and Sunderland play for the Friendship Trophy whenever they meet, a tradition stemming back from the 1985 League Cup final between the sides.
But there was nothing remotely amicable about Norwich's 3-0 loss to Sunderland on Saturday, with tempers boiling over virtually straight from the kick-off after Robbie Brady's challenge sent DeAndre Yedlin head first into the advertising hoardings.
Players and staff from both sides squared up in front of the dug-out with Allardyce in the thick of it, shoving Norwich's Jonny Howson and Cameron Jerome in ugly scenes which could land both clubs an FA charge.
'I got a bit carried away, but the Norwich players were encroaching my box - I was always going to protect my players and my mob,' added Allardyce, who also insisted he saw nothing untoward after the game amid rumours of a tunnel bust-up.
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