Few teams have come close to matching this particular record, which has entered its 30th year. As a weak Sheffield United side approach dangerous territory, we explore which team holds the unfortunate record for most goals conceded in a Premier League season.
Most Goals Conceded In A Premier League Season
Last season’s leakiest defence award went to Leeds, whose inability to keep the ball out their own net inevitably saw them slip back down into the Championship.
Despite outscoring seven teams who eventually finished above them in the table, the Whites allowed a league-high total of 78 goals.
The most recent team to come close to the overall record was Norwich two seasons ago, where the Canaries conceded 84 goals.
Given the rate at which bottom-of-the-league Sheffield United are conceding – just over 2.5 goals per game – the Blades could well be approaching the unfortunate fate of being the worst defensive side in Premier League history.
Should they continue to allow goals at this current rate of 2.66 per-90, they would set a new league record for goals conceded.
Sheffield are still some way off the record holders despite conceding another bucket-full in Arsenal’s 6-0 drubbing at Bramall Lane However, 11 games remain between now and the season’s climx, so let’s rewind the clock to see which teams have conceded the most in a single season.
3. Fulham – 2013/14 (85)
Fulham sneak into the top three for most goals conceded after seeing the net ripple a total of 85 times.
They were, of course, relegated following a disastrous season in which both Martin Jol and the rather eccentric Felix Magath failed to steer them clear of the drop.
Their form away from home made for particularly grim reading; 16 goals scored, 47 conceded.
2. Derby Country – 2007/08 (89)
You would be forgiven for thinking Derby’s calamitous campaign in 2007/08 would have seen them top the charts.
The worst ever Premier League season to date, which saw them register just 11 points in total, has gone down in footballing folklore.
If only taking 38-game seasons into account, Derby do indeed hold the record for most goals conceded after allowing 89. The Rams also set a slew of unwanted records for the most defeats (29), fewest goals scored (20) and fewest wins (1), while they remain they only team to be relegated as early as March.
1. Swindon Town – 1993/94 (100)
In the second ever season of the newly-formed Premier League, Swindon Town set the record for the most goals conceded after their total reached triple digits.
Robins fans will of course argue that there were 22 teams in the division back then, but subsequent seasons in the top-flight have seen plenty of teams register less wins and more defeats and still fail to concede anywhere near their 100 goals.
They have since failed to climb back into the Premier League, and were condemned to successive relegations after dropping down to Division 2 in the 1994/95 season.
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