Sheffield United trending to set unwanted records – Statistics

Sheffield United, currently positioned at the bottom of the Premier League table, faced a significant setback with a 5-0 defeat at home against Brighton on Sunday.

After seemingly gaining some much-needed confidence in the previous match, in a 3-1 away win against Luton, the Blades’ hopes of clinching points against the Seagulls were squandered early doors when Everton loanee Mason Holgate made a brainless challenge resulting in a red card.

United’s trajectory suggests they might be heading towards some undesirable Premier League records by the conclusion of the season.

Sheffield United could set several unwanted Premier League records

The Blades have endured the distressing statistic of conceding at least five goals in five distinct Premier League matches this season. Such a feat has only been witnessed twice before in Premier League history: Swindon Town (1993/94) and Derby County (2007/08) each experienced this plight, letting in five goals or more in six separate league games within the same season, ultimately leading to their relegation.

United have allowed 65 goals in their initial 25 matches, marking the highest conceded by any club at this point in a Premier League season. Should they continue at this pace, they’re projected to concede 99 goals by the season’s end, narrowly missing Swindon’s record of 100 in 1993/94 – though it’s noteworthy that this was achieved over a 42-game campaign.

Derby’s 2007/08 squad currently holds the record for the most goals conceded in a 38-game Premier League season, with 89 goals.

The record of Derby’s lowest points total of 11 in 2007/08 has already been surpassed. However, both the Blades and Burnley, each with 13 points from 25 games, are at risk of joining the list of six teams that have accumulated less than 20 points in a Premier League season. Alongside Derby, Sunderland (on two occasions), Portsmouth, Aston Villa, and Huddersfield have all previously fallen short of reaching that mark in a Premier League season.

Blunt Blades

There was so much positivity heading into this season but that all disappeared fairly quickly when the club decided to sell Iliman Nidaye and Sander Berge just days before the start of the campaign.

Sheffield United were left with massive holes to fill in the team, and despite having many players unavailable in early August at least they competed for a while.

Under Paul Heckingbottom performances were not good enough and the players stopped fighting for their manager, this resulted in some embarrassing results. Notably losing 8-0 to Newcastle, 5-0 to Arsenal and 5-0 to Burnley, which was the final game for Heckingbottom.

Chris Wilder later returned to the Sheffield United dugout and although we have seen performances improve, the Blades have dropped vital points late on. The Aston Villa draw before Christmas, even though everyone would’ve taken a draw pre-match, United were so close to getting a statement win. Just days later on Boxing Day, the Blades shot themselves in the foot twice to lose 3-2 at home to Luton.

Back-to-back 5-0 Premier League defeats at home is simply disgraceful, the Villa thrashing can be blamed on the manager and the players, however the Brighton loss for me is all on one man. Mason Holgate.

After claiming the first away win of the season against Luton, their was optimism among some fans before Sunday’s kick-off. But Holgate let the entire football club down. It’s quite simply the story of United’s campaign really. Just when the Blades look as though they’re giving themselves a lifeline, something catastrophic happens and then embarrassment follows.