The Premier League represents the pinnacle of English football, but not every campaign ends in glory. Some seasons become infamous for all the wrong reasons. This comprehensive guide examines the worst points tallies in Premier League history, exploring the stories behind these difficult campaigns, what went wrong, and the aftermath for these struggling clubs. From Derby County’s infamous 11-point season to other historically poor performances, we’ll analyze the numbers, key matches, and defining moments that shaped these challenging campaigns.
What Is the Lowest Points Total in Premier League History?
When it comes to points totals in Premier League history, no team has suffered quite like Derby County. The lowest premier league points record belongs to Derby County, who ended the 2007-08 season in the top flight with just 11 points—a truly unwanted points total. This tally stands as the worst in Premier League history and remains the benchmark for lowest points totals in Premier League annals.
That single season was brutal for the Rams. They managed just one win in 38 Premier League games, suffering an extraordinary 29 defeats—a top-flight record for futility. Derby’s sole victory, their second win in the Premier League since its inception, came against Newcastle United in September 2007, with Kenny Miller netting the winner in a 1-0 triumph at Pride Park Stadium. After that fleeting high point of the season, Derby’s losing run continued as they collected just two points from their next four games and embarked on a staggering 32-game winless stretch. It was as bad as it gets—a run that will forever be a reference point for teams with the lowest points.
Manager Billy Davies started the season hoping to keep the Premier League team competitive after winning the championship play-off final the previous spring, but after only 14 matches and six points on the board, he was sacked. Paul Jewell stepped in during the January transfer window, but even he couldn’t turn things around as Derby were soon relegated from the Premier League with weeks to spare. By the final point of the season, Derby were a staggering 24 points adrift of safety—the largest gap ever for a side relegated from the Premier League.
Defensively, Derby County conceded 89 goals in a single campaign, breaking the record for fewest goals and highlighting their struggles at both ends of the pitch. Offensively, they managed just 20 goals in a single season. After their only win, the best Derby could muster was a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United, but it was hardly as good as it got. The team’s only other highlights were rare draws against Arsenal and Manchester City—two games where survival in the Premier League seemed more distant than ever.
To put this all in context, other Premier League teams have struggled, but none quite like Derby. Sunderland finished a season with just 15 points in 2005-06, while Huddersfield Town managed 16 points in 2018-19. Aston Villa finished with 17 points in their disastrous second season in 2015-16, which left Black Cats fans and Villa faithful comparing notes on Premier League misery. In all these seasons, the relegated teams started the season with hope but soon found themselves in a losing run, collecting only a point or two from their next four matches.
Even clubs like Sheffield United and Sunderland have felt the sting—Sunderland, under Mick McCarthy, were relegated from the Premier League twice with historically low totals, and Sheffield United’s return to the top division saw them struggle in four games straight without a win. Teams have gone 20 games without a victory, but Derby’s 32-game drought is unmatched.
Since the Premier League’s inception, clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United, and Manchester City have chased the league title and set standards as champions, while Derby’s campaign serves as a cautionary tale. No other team has endured such a bleak points tally over 38 games—Derby’s 11 points are a record that even teams who start the season poorly have yet to match.
Looking at all points totals in Premier League history, Derby County’s season is one of seven worst campaigns ever and is widely regarded as the worst in premier league history. Whether it’s the number of games without a win, goals in a single campaign, or simply being relegated from the Premier League with record-low points, Derby County’s tally stands alone.
It’s a season often referenced by pundits like Tim Sherwood and managers seeking to motivate struggling sides—proof that no matter how bad it gets, it’s almost impossible to do worse than Derby. For Derby fans, the 11 points total is a source of pain, but also a strange badge of infamy in Premier League history.
How Does Sunderland’s 15-Point Season Compare to Other Low Tallies?
Sunderland holds the unfortunate distinction of recording two of the worst points totals in Premier League history. Their 2005-06 campaign saw the Black Cats earn just 15 points, making it the second-lowest points tally in the competition’s history. Under Mick McCarthy’s management, Sunderland managed just three wins all season against Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion, and Fulham—each win coming after tough stretches that included three games without a point.
McCarthy was sacked in March after a dismal run of results—having gone winless in two games prior to his dismissal—but the damage was already done, and he was ultimately replaced by Paul Jewell as part of a new management direction, reminiscent of Derby County’s own struggles. Sunderland’s relegation was confirmed with several games remaining, and they finished rock bottom of the Premier League table, 15 points adrift of safety. Despite valiant efforts in their first season in the top division after promotion, they simply couldn’t bridge the gap.
Remarkably, Sunderland would later earn just 20 points in the 2016-17 season, another historically poor return that ranks among the worst in the top flight. Between 2014 and 2019, Sunderland’s fortunes fluctuated, but these two campaigns stand out as examples of how difficult life can be in the Premier League for struggling clubs. Their repeated battles in the bottom three, combined with those disastrous points totals, ensure Sunderland remains a reference point whenever discussions of the worst Premier League seasons arise.
Was Derby’s 11-Point Season the Ultimate Premier League Failure?
When examining the lowest premier league points totals, Derby County’s 2007-08 campaign stands alone. Their 11 points represents not just a Premier League record but the worst performance in modern English top-flight history. To put this in perspective, the average relegation threshold in the Premier League typically hovers around 35-38 points, meaning Derby fell short by over 25 points.
The statistics tell a devastating story: one win, eight draws, and 29 defeats. Derby’s -69 goal difference further illustrates their struggles, with just 20 goals scored while conceding 89. Kenny Miller’s winner against Newcastle in September 2007 provided a rare moment of celebration, but as the season progressed, Derby’s campaign became more about damage limitation than competition.
Can Sheffield United’s 16-Point Season Be Considered Among the Worst?
Sheffield United’s 2020-21 campaign ranks among the lowest points totals in premier league history. The Blades collected just 16 points from 38 games, marking a dramatic reversal from their impressive 9th-place finish the previous season. After starting with no wins in their first 17 league matches (a Premier League record), Sheffield United’s relegation seemed inevitable.
Under Chris Wilder, who had previously led them from League One to the Premier League, Sheffield United struggled to recapture their earlier form. By the end of March, Wilder left the club with relegation virtually assured. The Blades finished bottom of the table, 16 points from safety, with just 7 wins and 29 losses. This dramatic decline represents one of the most significant performance drops in consecutive premier league campaigns.
What Happened to Sunderland After Their 15-Point Season?
Following their disastrous 15-point campaign in 2005-06, Sunderland spent one season in the Championship before securing promotion back to the Premier League. Under Roy Keane’s management, the Black Cats won the Championship title in 2006-07, demonstrating remarkable resilience after their previous top-flight failure.
Upon their return to the Premier League, Sunderland established themselves for several seasons, even achieving a 10th-place finish in 2010-11. However, the club would later experience another historically poor campaign in 2016-17, collecting just 19 points before relegation. This began a dramatic decline that saw Sunderland suffer consecutive relegations to League One, highlighting how difficult recovery can be after experiencing one of the lowest premier league points totals.
How Do 17-Point Seasons Compare to the Worst Premier League Campaigns?
Several clubs have finished Premier League seasons with 17 points, positioning them among the worst performances in the competition’s history. Huddersfield Town’s 2018-19 campaign saw them collect just 17 points from 38 games, securing only 3 wins and 7 draws while suffering 28 defeats. Like many teams with low points tallies, Huddersfield struggled to score goals, netting just 22 times throughout the season.
Similarly, Aston Villa’s 2015-16 season resulted in just 17 points, with the club experiencing significant turmoil. Villa went through three managers—Tim Sherwood, Rémi Garde, and Eric Black—as they stumbled to relegation. Their campaign included a 19-game winless run and several heavy defeats, highlighting the managerial instability that often accompanies historically poor seasons.
Which Team Had the Worst Start to a Premier League Season?
When examining the lowest points totals in premier league history, the starts to these campaigns often foreshadow the struggles ahead. Sheffield United’s 2020-21 season began with no wins from their first 17 matches, setting a Premier League record for the worst start to a season. By the time they secured their first victory against Newcastle in January, their relegation seemed inevitable.
Similarly, Derby’s record-breaking 11-point season saw them win just one of their first 14 games before embarking on a 32-game winless run. Sunderland’s 15-point campaign in 2005-06 began with five consecutive defeats, immediately putting them behind in the relegation battle. These poor starts highlight how quickly a season can unravel, leading to historically low points tallies.
Did Any Teams Recover From Being on Track for Record-Low Points?
While some teams have been on course for the lowest premier league points totals only to improve, few have managed dramatic escapes. Fulham’s 2007-08 season saw them collect just 15 points from their first 30 games, putting them on course for one of the worst tallies in premier league history. However, under Roy Hodgson, the Cottagers staged a remarkable recovery, winning four of their final five games to reach 36 points and avoid relegation.
Leicester City’s “Great Escape” in 2014-15 also deserves mention. The Foxes were bottom of the table for much of the season with only 19 points from 29 games. Their remarkable run of seven wins from their final nine matches lifted them to 41 points and safety. These examples show that while historically low points tallies often lead to relegation, some teams can engineer remarkable turnarounds.
What Factors Contribute to Historically Low Premier League Points Totals?
Several common factors appear when analyzing the lowest points totals in premier league history. Managerial instability frequently correlates with poor performance, as seen with Aston Villa’s three managers during their 17-point season or Sunderland’s mid-season change during their 15-point campaign. Teams experiencing significant transition after promotion often struggle, as demonstrated by Derby County’s immediate return to the Championship with just 11 points.
Squad quality also plays a crucial role. Derby’s 2007-08 team lacked Premier League experience, while Sheffield United’s 2020-21 squad failed to strengthen adequately after their impressive first season. Financial constraints sometimes limit a club’s ability to compete, particularly for newly-promoted sides. Additionally, low-scoring attacks appear consistently in teams with poor points tallies, with Derby (20 goals), Huddersfield (22 goals), and Sheffield United (20 goals) all struggling to find the net.
How Do Modern Low Points Totals Compare to Historical Ones?
The advent of the 20-team, 38-game Premier League format in 1995-96 allows for direct comparison of points totals in premier league history. Prior to this standardization, the lowest premier league points tally came from Swindon Town, who collected 30 points from 42 games in 1993-94, although this would equate to approximately 27 points in a 38-game season.
When comparing the lowest premier league points totals across eras, Derby’s 11 points (0.29 per game) remains significantly worse than any other campaign. Sunderland’s 15 points (0.39 per game) and Sheffield United’s 16 points (0.42 per game) complete the bottom three in terms of points-per-game ratio. While the financial disparity between Premier League clubs has increased over time, the record for futility set by Derby County in 2007-08 remains unchallenged, highlighting just how catastrophic their campaign was.
What Happened to These Teams After Recording the Lowest Points?
The aftermath of recording one of the lowest points totals in premier league history often involves significant rebuilding. Derby County struggled to recover immediately after their 11-point season, failing to secure automatic promotion back to the Premier League until 2022. The psychological impact of such a difficult campaign proved challenging to overcome.
Sunderland’s route following their 15-point season was initially more successful, with immediate promotion back to the top flight. However, their subsequent relegation in 2017 began a dramatic slide that saw them drop to League One. Sheffield United, after their 16-point campaign, secured immediate promotion back to the Premier League under Paul Heckingbottom in 2023, demonstrating how fortunes can quickly change.
Huddersfield and Aston Villa experienced different trajectories after their 17-point seasons. Villa secured investment, rebuilt effectively, and returned to the Premier League after three seasons. Huddersfield, however, continued to struggle in the Championship, highlighting how recording one of the lowest premier league points totals can have lasting impacts on a club’s trajectory.
Key Takeaways: The Worst Premier League Points Totals
Here are the most important points to remember about the lowest points totals in premier league history:
- Derby County holds the record for the lowest premier league points total with just 11 points in the 2007-08 season
- Sunderland recorded the second-lowest tally with 15 points in 2005-06
- Sheffield United’s 16 points in 2020-21 ranks as the third-worst points total
- Huddersfield Town and Aston Villa both finished with 17 points in their respective relegation seasons
- Managerial instability often accompanies historically low points tallies, with most of these teams changing managers mid-season
- Derby’s 2007-08 campaign included just one win in 38 games, a 1-0 victory against Newcastle
- Teams with the lowest points often struggle to score goals, with Derby, Sheffield United, and Huddersfield all scoring fewer than 25 goals
- The average Premier League season sees relegated teams collect approximately 30-35 points
- Several teams have recovered from poor starts to avoid historically low points totals, including Fulham in 2007-08
- Most teams that record the lowest premier league points totals require significant rebuilding before returning to the top flight
FAQs About the Lowest Premier League Points Totals
What is the lowest points total in Premier League history?
Derby County holds the record for the lowest premier league points total with just 11 points from 38 games during the 2007-08 season, winning just one match all season.
Has any team finished a Premier League season with single-digit points?
No team has finished a Premier League season with fewer than 10 points. Derby County’s 11-point tally in 2007-08 remains the lowest points total in premier league history.
Which teams have recorded the lowest points totals in Premier League history?
The teams with the lowest points totals in premier league history are Derby County (11 points in 2007-08), Sunderland (15 points in 2005-06), Sheffield United (16 points in 2020-21), and both Huddersfield Town and Aston Villa (17 points in their respective relegation seasons).
How many wins did Derby County achieve during their record-low 11-point season?
Derby County managed just one win during their entire 2007-08 campaign, a 1-0 victory against Newcastle United at Pride Park in September 2007, courtesy of a Kenny Miller goal.
