The most goals conceded in Premier League history
- Sheffield United could break the record for most goals conceded in a Premier League season
- The English top flight has seen some pretty porous defences over the years
- One side conceded a century of goals in the early days of the Premier League
Sheffield United fans have been put through the wringer this season.
Blades supporters have seen their side humiliated on more than one occasion, suffering hefty defeats at the hands of Arsenal, Burnley and Brighton, as well as conceding eight unanswered goals to Newcastle United at Bramall Lane.
The Yorkshire side look determined to break the record for the most Premier League goals conceded in a single season, an unwanted record that will almost certainly come with relegation.
The merciless Premier League has been too tough for the Blades this year, so let's take a look at the leakiest defences in the competition's history that Sheffield United just might outdo.
5. Norwich City (2021/22) - 84 goals
2021/22 was a season to forget for Norwich City, with the Canaries falling straight back into the Championship after promotion to the Premier League.
Daniel Farke was replaced by Dean Smith after just three months of the campaign, but there was no new manager bounce at Carrow Road as Norwich slumped to the bottom of the table - a whopping 16 points from safety.
The Norfolk side won just five games all season, accumulating a measly 22 points and conceding a staggering 84 goals. There were hefty defeats at the hands of the Premier League's elite, with Norwich conceding 43 goals - over half their tally - in 12 matches against the traditional 'big six'.
4. Fulham (2013/14) - 85 goals
Despite having some talented players at their disposal, Fulham couldn't avoid relegation during the 2013/14 campaign, and it was largely down to a defence that was leaking goals.
The Cottagers conceded 85 across the season - an average of 2.24 per match - and the peak of their defensive embarrassment came away at Hull City, where they conceded six second-half goals in a 6-0 defeat.
They also let in four in games against Stoke City, Everton, Liverpool, Sunderland and Manchester City, as well as conceding five to the latter at the Etihad.
3. Derby County (2007/08) - 89 goals
Recording the lowest ever points tally in Premier League history after picking up just 11 from a possible 114, it's fair to say that the 2007/08 campaign was hellish for Derby County.
The Rams won just once all season - a 1-0 win over Newcastle just six games into the campaign - and conceded six goals in four separate matches.
While their defensive performances left a lot to be desired - conceding the most goals in a 38-game Premier League season - Derby also struggled in the other penalty box, drawing blanks in 22 matches.
2. Ipswich Town (1994/95) - 93 goals
While Ipswich can feel slightly hard done by given their terrible tally of 93 goals conceded came in a 42-game season, there can be no real excuses for their awful defensive displays.
Unsurprisingly, the Tractor Boys finished rock bottom of the table, despite securing memorable wins over Liverpool and Manchester United.
However, Man Utd would have the last laugh, putting a record nine unanswered goals past Ipswich in their second meeting of the season, with Andy Cole netting five all by himself.
That drubbing skews their final tally slightly, but the Suffolk side still only managed three clean sheets all term.
1. Swindon Town (1993/94) - 100 goals
Similarly to Ipswich, Swindon Town's record-breaking tally of 100 goals conceded came during a 42-game season. Their only season in the top flight of English football was one to forget, with John Gorman's men unable to cope with the step up in quality.
Swindon conceded 32 goals more than any other side in the division during the 1993/94 season, allowing five or more in six individual games.
The Robins will certainly be hopeful that Sheffield United continue their woeful run of form this season, although some of the club's supporters may want to keep their place in the Premier League record books.
Team that has conceded most goals in every Premier League season
Season | Team | Goals conceded | League finish |
---|---|---|---|
1992/93* | Middlesbrough | 75 | 21st |
1993/94* | Swindon | 100 | 22nd |
1994/95* | Ipswich | 93 | 22nd |
1995/96 | Bolton | 71 | 20th |
1996/97 | Middlesbrough | 60 | 19th |
1997/98 | Barnsley | 82 | 19th |
1998/99 | Nottingham Forest | 69 | 20th |
1999/00 | Watford | 77 | 20th |
2000/01 | Bradford City | 70 | 20th |
2001/02 | Ipswich & Leicester | 64 | 18th & 20th |
2002/03 | West Brom & Sunderland | 65 | 19th & 20th |
2003/04 | Leeds | 79 | 20th |
2004/05 | Norwich | 77 | 19th |
2005/06 | Sunderland | 69 | 20th |
2006/07 | Fulham & Charlton | 60 | 16th & 19th |
2007/08 | Derby | 89 | 20th |
2008/09 | West Brom | 67 | 20th |
2009/10 | Burnley | 82 | 18th |
2010/11 | Blackpool | 78 | 19th |
2011/12 | Wolves | 82 | 20th |
2012/13 | Wigan & Reading | 73 | 18th & 19th |
2013/14 | Fulham | 85 | 19th |
2014/15 | QPR | 73 | 20th |
2015/16 | Aston Villa | 76 | 20th |
2016/17 | Hull City | 80 | 18th |
2017/18 | West Ham & Stoke | 68 | 13th & 19th |
2018/19 | Fulham | 81 | 19th |
2019/20 | Norwich | 75 | 20th |
2020/21 | West Brom | 76 | 19th |
2021/22 | Norwich | 84 | 20th |
2022/23 | Leeds | 78 | 19th |
*42-game season
The bad news for Sheffield United is that only two teams have ever avoided relegation after conceding the most goals in a Premier League season.
One of those sides was Fulham during the 2006/07 campaign, who conceded a pretty respectable 60 goals and managed a 16th-place finish. However, during the same campaign, Charlton Athletic conceded an identical amount, yet finished in 19th. It's also worth noting that Sheffield United have already conceded significantly more than that tally this season.
West Ham United managed to finish a comfortable 13th in 2017/18 despite conceding a joint league-high 68 goals during the season. Stoke City let in the same number, but couldn't avoid the drop after falling to 19th.