Sheffield United to make history? 9 unwanted Premier League records | OneFootball

Sheffield United’s relegation back to the Championship was confirmed on Saturday with another miserable defeat to Newcastle United, falling 5-1 at St. James’ Park.

In reality, the Blades’ fate has long been sealed, and even Chris Wilder’s return couldn’t inspire any serious improvement. Just three wins from 35 matches is a wretched return by anyone’s standards and fully deserving of an immediate return to the second tier.

It was, perhaps, quite fitting that their relegation was confirmed against Newcastle United. After all, it was the Magpies who inflicted an 8-0 defeat on Sheffield United at Bramhall Lane earlier this season; the second-heaviest home loss in Premier League history, and it was a match that featured the most individual goal-scorers (8) of any single Premier League game. Sheffield United’s Newcastle nightmare was deepened with the 5-1 defeat on Saturday, meaning it’s the most goals any team has conceded to a single opponent (13) in a single Premier League campaign, while the 13-1 aggregate defeat is the heaviest in competition history.

But if they’re not careful, Sheffield United may break some unwanted records. So, with three games left to play, Blades fans will hope their players can turn in some unexpectedly strong performances to avoid further humiliation.

Here are nine unwanted Premier League records, some of which Sheffield United either already hold or are in danger of breaking:

1. Most goals conceded in a single season

The 5-1 thrashing to Newcastle means Sheffield United have already broken the 38-game record for most goals conceded in a single Premier League season, now sitting on a whopping 97. That’s 2.77 per game, and there are still three games to go. Having many games left to endure is worrying for the Blades, who are now just three short of the 100 goals Swindon Town conceded in 1994/95. That remains the competition record, but it was set back when the Premier League had 22 teams and was played over a 42-game season.

Sheffield United still has to face a Nottingham Forest side fighting for their lives, an in-form Everton who just secured their safety, and Champions League-chasing Tottenham, so the outlook is bleak.

2. Lowest points in a single season

Sheffield United have been bad, but fans can at least rest easy knowing they’re already five clear of the lowest points total in Premier League history. That record remains the property of Derby County’s 2007/08 outfit, who mustered just 11 points all season. The Blades have given it a good go, but the Rams might hold onto that embarrassing accolade for a while.

3. Fewest goals scored in a single season

Sheffield United are the co-holders for the fewest goals scored in a single season, but they didn’t set the record this time. Their 2020/21 contingent joined 07/08 Derby on just 20 goals scored from 38 games, and with 34 strikes already this season, the Blades have been positively lethal by comparison.

4. Most goals conceded at home in a single season

Look away now, Blades fans. Your current crop has already set this record, too, with opponents finding the net 51 times and counting at Bramhall Lane this campaign. That eclipses the previous record of 46 set by Watford in 2021/22.

5. Most goals conceded away in a single season

Wigan Athletic’s 2009/10 side still held the record when they leaked 55 goals on the road but still managed to stay in 16th place. Sheffield United sit on 46 with only their last-ever trip to Goodison Park to come. We don’t foresee a 10-0 win for Everton, but Blades fans will probably tell us to hold our horses.

6. Most defeats in a single season

It shouldn’t surprise you that Derby is the joint record holder, losing 29 times in 2007/08. They’re joined by Sheffield United (20/21), Sunderland (05/06) and Ipswich Town (94/95) on this podium. Could a team break this and lose 30 out of 38 games in one season?

7. Fewest wins in a single season

It’s Derby again. We all remember they won just one game in 2007/08, but who was it against? Newcastle United, of course. It took the Rams just six games to get off the mark, but after that, they could only muster seven draws before the end of the season.

With that win coming at Pride Park — the joint-lowest number of home wins in a single season alongside Sunderland in 2005/06 — it goes without saying that Derby also hold the joint-record for fewest away wins in a single season, although they’re one of six teams to go a whole season without victory on the road.

This is another record 07/08 Derby hold, posting -69 with 20 goals scored and 89 conceded. However, Sheffield United are in danger of breaking this record as well. With three games still to play, the Blades are on -63, and given that they’ve conceded at least four goals in each of their last three games, it wouldn’t be a shock to see them enter the -70s.

Poor old Wes Foderingham has been the man between the sticks for Sheffield United this season, picking the ball out of his net 72 times so far with just one clean sheet. That’s an incredible number, considering he didn’t play for nearly two months between February and April.