WEST Ham United’s hard-fought draw with Crystal Palace on Monday night meant that Wolverhampton Wanderers’ eight-year stay in the top-flight has come to an end.
A stay which included two seventh-placed finishes and a UEFA Europa League Quarter-final appearance in 2020, this campaign has certainly been a bitter one to swallow.
With five matches still left in the season, this got us wandering – what are the earliest relegation in Premier League history?
10. Derby County – 2007/08
In tenth place we have the infamous Derby County side of 2007/08, which accumulated the lowest points tally of all PL clubs ever.
Victory on matchday six against Newcastle United at Pride Park was the highlight, and the only team they defeated all season.
A record low of just 11 points remains the lowest of any side, and their fate was sealed at the end of March, which followed a run of four draws in 14 matches, and they haven’t returned since.
9. Huddersfield Town – 2018/19
You have to feel for the Terriers – a team completely out of touch for Premier League football and despite narrowly surviving the season before under David Wagner, they were 20 points worse off in 2018/19 and suffered relegation by 30th March.
It was an awful season in all competitions for the Yorkshire outfit – getting knocked out of both domestic cups immediately after entering, with beating Wolves home and away being their only highlight of a poor campaign.
8. Fulham – 2018/19
The 2018/19 season was a very poor one in terms of a relegation dog-fight.
Firstly, Huddersfield, and then Fulham two days later, which began their prime “yo-yo” club days.
Three managers throughout the campaign, and their biggest win being a 2-0 victory over Exeter City? Yeah, this was not a campaign they will look back on with fond memories.
7. Leicester City – 2001/02
Back when the Premier League was actually competitive and the “magical 40 points” was actually crucial to stay up.
It wasn’t a bad season for the Foxes in comparison to the teams we have gone through so far, as they only earned points in 18 of their matches.
However, five wins will never be enough to stay in the top-flight, and they only found themselves outside the relegation places on three matchdays.
6. Southampton – 2024/25
Now for the side most of you would have been dreading to read about, the mighty Saints.
For most of the season, many were waiting for Southampton to be relegated with the lowest amount of points ever.
From matchday six onwards, the Saints never had to look back over their shoulder, being rooted to the bottom – with three draws in their last 14 matches saving them from a very unwanted record as they got relegated on April 6th.
5. Portsmouth – 2009/10
Now to flip on Pompey, as their 2009/10 side were relegated on April 10th.
In a season of bad luck, with them being docked nine points after they entered administration, the table gave for worse reading than the excellent fight they put up.
They did bounce back strongly from seven defeats in a row to start the campaign, and would have been very pleased with a final at Wembley to end a horrific campaign on and off the pitch.
4. Sunderland – 2002/03
This was a season which was very tough to stay in, with even West Ham getting relegated despite earning 42 points.
The Black Cats were far off the pace from the outset, winning just four all season, but it was the back end of it which really saw them fall off the face of the earth.
After looking competitive for the first half of the campaign, just one point in their last 19 games sealed their fate by April 12th.
2=. Leicester City and Ipswich Town – 1994/95
The first team on this list to appear twice, and twice within a decade – despite suffering relegation on April 13th, Leicester did not even come bottom of the table.
It was defeat the following day for Ipswich which then sealed their own fate too, as both teams ended 19 and 21 points adrift of safety respectively.
At the back it was an utter disaster for both sides, who conceded an abysmal 173 goals between them, leaving them too much to do at the other end of the pitch to avoid relegation.
1. Sunderland – 2005/06
Another side to appear on this list twice is Sunderland, who are however currently in a much tidier position than that of Leicester.
This campaign was another disaster from start to finish, with the Black Cats picking up just three wins all year, as they were rooted to the bottom three in all but one week.
Five points in their last 13 games meant they simply fell too far behind to ever catch up, as their 15 points was only half of what 19th placed West Brom managed and 23 adrift of safety.
(Teams based on relegations by date)
