0 points, 0 goals, 17 conceded. Crystal Palace, after 7 matches, are on pace to become the worst team in the history of the Premier League. Until that becomes official, here are the 10 worst seasons in the history fo the Premier League (38 matches format), including a few Sunderland teams and one awful Derby side.
10-9. Bradford (2000-01) & West Brom (2002-03): 26 Points
Bradford, in their second Premier League season, started out by stunning Chelsea on the opening day. But they won just four times after that, and Chris Hutchings was fired after only 12 matches, replaced by Jim Jefferies, who didn’t do any better. They also finished with a -40 goal difference.
West Brom in that version were coached by Gary Megson, who lasted the entire season, the team’s 1-year stint in the Premier League. West Brom finished 18 points out of 17th place, but weren’t the worst team that season. However, they were tied for the worst defense in the league, conceding 65 goals.
8-7. Wolves (2011-12) & QPR (2012-13): 25 Points
After two seasons of avoiding relegation, Wolves couldn’t make the magic last in 2011-2012. Mick McCarthy was fired in February and the team only got worse under Terry Connor, finishing with a -42 and 82 conceded goals, never returning to the Premier league.
The same season Wolves were relegated, QPR played a big part in Manchester City’s historic title run, losing 3-2 in the final match as City clinched the title in dramatic fashion. The next season, they won only 4 matches. Mark Hughes was fired in November, and Harry Redknapp couldn’t move them up from a 20th place finish.
6-5. Watford (1999-00) & Sunderland (2016-17): 24 Points
Watford had quite a few bad seasons in the Premier League (although they’re doing alright now), but during the Millennium season they returned to the top flight for the first time in 12 years, only to go back down very quickly. The Hornets won just 6 times during the season, conceding 77 goals and finishing with a -42 goal difference.
Sunderland, making their first of three appearances on this list, kept avoiding relegation over the course of the previous decade, but under David Moyes looked quite incapable of putting up a fight. Finishing last and 16 points under the 17th place, it send the club into the second flight for the fourth time in Premier League history.
4. Sunderland (2002-03): 19 Points
Sunderland sacked two managers during the season, starting with Peter Reid, followed by Howard Wilkinson and ended up with Mick McCarthy. None could save the Black Cats from relegation, finishing 25 points away from safety. They won just 4 times, scored only 21 goals and ended up with a -44 goals difference.
3. Aston Villa (2015-16): 17 Points
Villa spent 28 consecutive seasons in the top flight, including all of the Premier League seasons, until 2015-16. The team started with Tim Sherwood who got sacked, followed by Remi Garde who was fired too. The season was lost before Christmas. Only 3 wins, 27 goals and a -49 goals difference, finishing 22 points away from 17th.
2. Sunderland (2005-06): 15 Points
Sunderland’s worst effort in the Premier League (and there have been quite a few awful ones) came in 2005-06, losing 29 of their 38 matches and scoring 26 goals along the way, finishing 23 points out of safety. McCarthy, showing up on this list quite a lot, was fired in March, and Kevin Ball took charge without anything changing.
1. Derby County (2007-08): 11 Points
As bad as Sunderland have been over various seasons in the Premier League, nothing comes close to what Derby did in 2007-2008, winning just one match all season long, scoring 20 goals and conceding 89, losing 6-0 at home to Aston Villa and going 32 matches without a win. They’ve yet to return to the top flight since that season.
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