MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 00:13:00| >> :120:62007:62007:

How do Sheffield United compare to other Premier League strugglers?

The lowest points total to survive has been 34.

Sheffield United finally recorded their first win of the season in Saturday's FA Cup tie at Bristol Rovers – but now the attention turns back to their Premier League rescue mission.

The Blades prop up the table after no wins and just two points from their first 17 games, the longest ever winless start in the Premier League.

Here, the PA news agency tracks how Chris Wilder's side compares to other notable strugglers – starting with the most famous of them all.

Derby's record relegation

Kenny Miller, left, and Derby celebrate their winner against Newcastle
Even record-breaking Derby had more points at this stage than the Blades thanks to Kenny Miller, left, scoring a winner against Newcastle (Nick Potts/PA)

Derby's 2007-08 season still stands out in Premier League history, as they managed just 11 points in 38 games – four fewer than any other team in the Premier League era.

Their sole win actually came early in the season, beating Newcastle 1-0 in their sixth game, meaning even they had six points after 17 games – one more than Sunderland's five in 2005-06. The Black Cats' eventual 15 points was the second-lowest total in Premier League history.

Derby's draw with the Magpies in their next match lifted them to seven but they managed only four more draws the rest of the way. A miserable season saw them concede six goals on four separate occasions – against Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Arsenal – five in their other meeting with the Gunners and against West Ham, and another three four-goal hauls.

The Blades have been nowhere near as bad defensively, letting in 29 goals in 17 games and more than two on only three occasions, while 11 of their 15 defeats have come by a single goal.

They have scored only eight at the other end, though, David McGoldrick with four of those as big-money summer signing Rhian Brewster still seeks his first goal.

Scrap for survival

How Sheffield United compare to the worst teams in Premier League history
No team has ever survived with a single-figure points total at this stage of the season (PA graphic)

Of course, the Blades' aim is not simply to avoid Derby's record – and survival seems a long way distant.

The lowest ever points total for a team to stay in the Premier League was 34, by West Brom in 2004-05, meaning the Blades would need 32 points from their remaining 19 games to match that.

Albion were on 10 after 17 games, albeit with only one win, and no team has survived after having fewer points at this stage – Southampton also had 10 on their way to a 17th-placed finish in 1998-99, as did eventual 14th-placed finishers Sunderland in 2013-14 and Leicester the following year.

This season's Baggies are also languishing in the relegation places and, though not as far adrift as Wilder's side, their eight-point tally gives obvious cause for concern.

Fulham, in the final relegation place, have 11 with two games in hand on Brighton, the last team above the survival line on 14 points.

ID:430110: cacheID:430110:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6568:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Chorley's Mike Calveley scores their second goal against Derby County in the FA Cup third round on January 9, 2021
Read Next:
Chorley celebrate with Adele tribute after Derby victory
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd20135228111742
2Leeds UnitedLeeds20125336142241
3Burnley2010822471738
4Sunderland20107329151437
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn1910452317634
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2071122314932
7Middlesbrough209473425931
8Watford199462725231
9Swansea CitySwansea207672119227
10Norwich CityNorwich206863530526
11Bristol City206862525026
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds207582329-626
13Millwall196762017325
14Derby CountyDerby216692626024
15Preston North EndPreston2041062026-622
16Luton TownLuton2064102335-1222
17Coventry CityCoventry205692529-421
18Stoke CityStoke205692126-521
19Queens Park RangersQPR204972026-621
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd194692030-1018
21Portsmouth193882134-1317
22Cardiff CityCardiff1945101730-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth1945101940-2117
24Hull City2037101828-1016


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!