Sheffield United struggled a lot in 2020/21, recovering just of them points out of 45 possible to start the season. The Blades have lost 13 games so far and have yet to win in the Premier League since Chelsea pounded in last season’s “Project Restart”.
Only one side in Premier League history has lasted longer at the start of a season without registering a single win and relegation to the league is staring Sheffield United in the face unless the results turn around soon.
Taking into account each team that finished a season with 25 points or less (with the exception of Portsmouth in 2009/10, whose low total was the result of a points deduction for entry into administration), here is how Sheffield United stack up against the worst Historic Premier teams in the league at this point in the season (15 games)…
Record after 15 games: W4, D2, L9 – 14 points
Final count: 25 points
The Wolves had put five points between them and the bottom of the table by the mark of 15 games in the 2011/12 season.
Although they struggle to secure victories, they collected quite a few points in December and it was only on the home stretch of the campaign that they slipped irreversibly to the bottom of the table.
Record after 15 games: W3, D5, L7 – 14 points
Final count: 19 points
In 2002/03, Sunderland became the first club in Premier League history to end a season with less than 20 points. But by no means did it start as badly as it ended.
The Black Cats were barely in full swing after 15 games, but they had 14 points and were above the relegation zone. It was later that things took a pear shape, taking just one point out of 57 available in 19 games in the second half of the season.
Record after 15 games: W3, D2, L10 – 11 points
Final count: 24 points
After consistently flirting with the drop zone year after year, Sunderland finally relinquished the Phantom in 2016/17 and succumbed to relegation to the Championship for the first time in a decade.
At the 15th mark of the game, the Black Cats, although low, were still in touch with the clubs above them thanks to three quick wins in November and December. But they only won twice after Christmas to seal their fate.
Record after 15 games: W3, D2, L10 – 11 points
Final count: 24 points
Watford’s first period in the top flight during the Premier League era was short and ended after just one season. But their record, especially in the first eight games, was respectable from the start.
Sheffield Wednesday was much worse than the Hornets at the 15-game stadium of the 1999/00 season. But while they were eventually relegated, too, the owls pulled themselves together a bit more.
Record after 15 games: W3, D2, L10 – 11 points
Final count: 21 points
Daniel Farke’s naive Norwich was not at the bottom of the table after 15 games and had at one point reached 12th after a shock victory over then champion Manchester City.
The real rot that contributed to one of the lowest point totals in Premier League history came at the end and the Canaries haven’t taken any points from their last 10 games.
Record after 15 games: W2, D4, L9 – 10 points
Final count: 16 points
Huddersfield worsened considerably as the 2018/19 season progressed and was in fact (just) out of the relegation zone after the opening 15 rounds of matches.
The Burrows were already starting to crumble, however. Eight consecutive defeats between early December and early January were the fatal blow and they took just six points out of the possible 75 offered from Game 14.
Record after 15 games: D6, L9 – 9 points
Final count: 25 points
Only 2012/13 QPR lasted longer at the start of a Premier League season than current Sheffield United side, with the Hoops waiting for Game 17 for their first win.
QPR has rarely been played off the field this season and has consistently lost only by one goal. But it was their inability to win games – just four out of 38 – that did the damage.
Record after 15 games: W1, D3, L11 – 6 points
Final count: 17 points
Despite winning on the opening day of the season, Aston Villa has been extremely sad for much of 2015/16, which culminated in their very first relegation to the Premier League.
Having followed little the previous season, Villa played in the transfer market and spent a lot on too many players who weren’t good enough or too raw and inexperienced.
Record after 15 games: W1, D3, L11 – 6 points
Final count: 11 points
The infamously poor Derby side of 2007/08 set a new Premier League record for the lowest points on record, barely hitting double digits.
But the Rams, who have lost 29 of their 38 games, had already claimed their only victory at this stage of the season – a narrow victory over Newcastle just weeks after the start of the campaign.
Record after 15 games: W1, D2, L12 – 5 points
Final count: 15 points
After breaking ground as the worst in Premier League history three years earlier, Sunderland lowered its own bar in 2005/06 with another points record.
Mick McCarthy had brought the club back into the top flight and actually kept his job until February. But Sunderland was at the bottom of the table in all but five games in total.
Record after 15 games: D1, L13 – 2 points
No team in Premier League history has been so poor at this point in a 38-game season as Sheffield United in 2020/21, which is in stark contrast to the Blades in 2019/20 when they have exceeded.
Defensive injuries and the loss of loaner goaltender Dean Henderson were a hammer blow to the club, with losses eating into confidence week after week.
For more than Jamie Spencer, follow it on Twitter and Facebook!
