MX23RW : Wednesday, December 18 05:36:50| >> :600:349941:349941:

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 Utd21145230111945
2Leeds UnitedLeeds21126337152242
3Burnley2111822681841
4Sunderland21117332171540
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2011452517837
6Middlesbrough21104735251034
7Watford2010462926334
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2171132416832
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds218582630-429
10Swansea CitySwansea217682322127
11Bristol City216962626027
12Norwich CityNorwich216873632426
13Millwall206772018225
14Derby CountyDerby216692626024
15Coventry CityCoventry216692730-324
16Preston North EndPreston2141162127-623
17Stoke CityStoke215792328-522
18Queens Park RangersQPR2141072127-622
19Luton TownLuton2164112337-1422
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2046102133-1218
21Cardiff CityCardiff2046101932-1318
22Portsmouth193882134-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2045111942-2317
24Hull City2137111930-1116


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!