The Worst Teams in Premier League History: 2023 Edition
What are the 10 worst teams in Premier League history? These teams struggled to the lowest points totals ever.
The 40-point mark is what is considered the number of points needed to avoid relegation from the Premier League. These teams got nowhere near that.
10. Swindon Town (1993-94) - 30 points
It took Swindon Town of 1993-94 Matchday 18 of the season to win their first game. They were also fortunate that striker Jan Age Fjortoft found form at the turn of the new year, scoring all 12 of his league goals from that point.To their credit, they scored 47 goals in total for the season. They are however one of the worst teams in Premier League history, conceding a record 100 goals and keeping only four clean sheets during the 42-game season.
Ultimately, Swindon Town lost too many star players that earned them promotion to the Premier League the season before, including captain Colin Calderwood.
Defensive errors cost the team dearly and they ended up suffering back-to-back relegations after finishing 21st in the second tier in 1994-95.
9. Watford (2021-22) - 23 points
Watford had a miserable 2021-22 season. Head coach Xisco was sacked in October, and Claudio Ranieri didn’t survive beyond the end of January. Roy Hodgson became the third manager of the season.
The club struggled in their first season without club legend Troy Deeney. Emmanuel Dennis was the only highlight for the season, having a breakout year and scoring 10 Premier League goals, the only player to hit double digits.
Vicarage Road was the opposite of a fortress for the club. Watford lost a record 11 straight home games, and conceded 61 goals at home.
8. Sheffield United (2020-21) - 23 points
With only two points in their first 17 games, Sheffield United were off to the worst start in Premier League history. A Matchday 18 win against Newcastle United ended the streak, and the Blades somehow stunned Manchester United with a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.Sheffield conceded 63 goals during the season as they battled with injuries, but it was their attack that was woeful.
David McGoldrick was top scorer with 8 goals, followed by Bill Sharp with 3 goals. Right-back Jayden Bogle was the only other player with multiple goals, scoring twice, and Sheffield's total of 20 goals is tied for the lowest ever in a season.
7. Norwich City (2021-22) - 23 points
Before the season had even begun, Norwich sold one of their best players in recent history Emi Buendia to Aston Villa for a club record £31 million. Without his goal involvements, Norwich struggled to score goals with only 23 for the season.
Their midfield issues were further compounded as they didn't secure a true defensive midfield replacement for Oliver Skipp who returned back to Tottenham from his loan spell.
The lack of creativity and of a defensive anchor in midfield contributed to the club leaking 84 goals, and a horrid goal differential of -61.
6. Norwich City (2019-20) - 21 points
Norwich of 2019-20 actually got off to a good start for the season. In their first five games they managed to beat Manchester City, and thrashed Newcastle United with Teemu Pukki scoring a hat-trick.
Despite the relentless efforts on attack, Norwich managed only 26 goals. Pukki scored 11 of those, midfielder Todd Cantwell scored six, but no other player managed to score multiple goals.
Goalkeeper Tim Krul was one of their best players for the season and somehow kept five clean sheets. Norwich still conceded 75 goals and finished with a goal difference of -49.
5. Sunderland (2002-03)
The 2002-03 season was Sunderland's worst ever Premier League season at the time. They managed a 2-1 win against Liverpool on December 15 and were outside the relegation zone at this point. They wouldn't win again for the entire season.Sunderland managed to pick up only two more points during the season, losing a Premier League record 15 straight games to close the season.
Before the season, the club spent £6.75m for Tore Andre Flo, but he flopped. He scored only four league goals in 29 appearances. Not even Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips could save 2002-03 Sunderland. Having scored the most goals in the Premier League and winning the European Golden Shoe just three years earlier, he finished the season with 6 goals in 32 games.
Sunderland tried in vain to survive, cycling through three managers. Peter Reid lasted until October, Howard Wilkinson then taking over until March, and Mick McCarthy taking them through until the end of year.
4. Aston Villa (2015-16)
Aston Villa started off 2015-16 off with a win against Bournemouth but it was all downhill from there. Tim Sherwood was sacked in late October following a run of six straight losses.His replacement Remi Garde took over in November, led Villa to an 11-game losing streak and he was gone by the end of March.
The club never recovered from the sale of Christian Benteke for £32.5m and only scored 27 goals for the season.
Villa spent close to £60m on transfers including almost £11m on Jordan Ayew. He would top score for Villa with 7 goals in the league.
A young Jack Grealish had a good season but it wasn't enough to avoid relegation, ending Aston Villa's run of 28 consecutive seasons in top flight football.
3. Huddersfield Town (2018-19)
Huddersfield Town survived their first season in the Premier League but it all came crashing down the season after. The 2018-19 Huddersfield side was one of the worst teams in Premier League history.Ramadan Sobhi was Huddersfield's most notable buy for the season, brought in from Stoke City for £5.7m. He made only four appearances during the season, all off the bench.
Huddersfield struggled to score, with 21-year old Karlan Grant’s four goals from 13 games the highest of any player. A goal difference of -54 was compounded by relegation on March 30, the second earliest relegation of all-time.
It could have been worse had it not been for the Wolves. Huddersfield somehow picked up wins in both their fixtures against Wolverhampton, who finished in seventh place.
2. Sunderland (2005-06)
How could Sunderland get any worse than their 19-point total in the 2002-03 season? The 2005-06 Sunderland team somehow managed to, with only 15 points for the season.Sunderland spent only £4.25m on transfers during the season, far below Premier League standards. Striker Jon Stead joined from Blackburn for £1.8m, and goalkeeper Kelvin Davis from Ipswich for £1.25m.
Ultimately, Sunderland would finish with only 26 goals and conceded 69 for a differential of -43. Stead was well off the pace, scoring just one goal in 30 appearances. Davis managed only four clean sheets in 33 games.
Mick McCarthy was sacked in mid-Feb with Kevin Ball taking over as caretaker manager for the rest of the season.
1. Derby County (2007-08) - 11 points
Derby County of 2007-08 are the worst Premier League team in history. The club won on Matchday 6 against Newcastle United thanks to a 39th minute Kenny Miller strike. It was their only win of the season, and Kenny would finish as top goal scorer with four goals.
No funds were made available for new transfers and it was a team filled with journeymen, with the team having no distinct style of play. Head coach Billy Davies was sacked in November, and his replacement Paul Jewell couldn't turn things around.
The Rams finished with the lowest Premier League points total in history with 11 points. They matched Loughborough's Football League record of just one win in a season which was set in 1899–1900.
Derby County were officially relegated on 29 March making them the first club in Premier League history to be relegated in March. Derby also conceded the most Premier League goals in a 38-game season, scored the fewest goals (tied only with 2020-21 Sheffield United), and set the worst ever goal differential.
