What is the lowest points total in Premier League history?

DERBY, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 01: Paul Jewell, manager of Derby County looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Derby and Sunderland at Pride Park on March 01, 2008 in Derby, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Paul Jewell was one of two managers in Derby's record-breaking Premier League season (Image credit: Getty Images)

They’ve already played their change-of-manager card and flailing Southampton still show no signs of significant improvement.

The Saints dispensed with the dogmatic defensive possession of Russell Martin and replaced him with the more experienced Ivan Juric, but the death metal fanatic is yet to get Southampton rocking.

2024/25 is shaping up to be a historically bad season for the Premier League’s bottom club. With six points from 23 games, Southampton are averaging around 0.26 points per game and are therefore on track to finish with ten points. (If their average is rounded up.)

Derby County’s 11-point season

LONDON - APRIL 19: Robbie Savage of Derby County hooks in a cross watched by James Tomkins of West Ham United during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Derby County at Upton Park on April 19, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

Robbie Savage was part of the Derby team relegated in 2008 (Image credit: Getty Images)

Derby County are the not-so-proud holders of the current record low Premier League points total, which they achieved in a catastrophic 2007/08 season. The Rams were relegated on 29th March with six games remaining. For the record, it was after Easter.

Their meagre tally of 11 points was achieved courtesy of draws with Portsmouth (home), Bolton Wanderers (home), Fulham (twice), Newcastle United (away), Manchester City (home), Birmingham City (away) and Sunderland (home), and a single win, against Newcastle at Pride Park, in September 2007.

Derby County's manager Billy Davies commands his team in their Premiership League clash against Newcastle at Pride Park stadium in Derby, United Kingdom 17 September 2007. Kenny Miller scored the only goal of the game to earn Derby their first Premiership win of the season today to put Newcastle's Euro 2008 qualifying star Michael Owen out of the spotlight. AFP PHOTO/LINDSEY PARNABY Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures are subject to obtaining a Photographic End User Licence from Football Data Co Ltd. Tel:+44(0)2078649121 or email: accreditations @football_dataco.com. applies to Premier and Football League matches. (Photo credit should read LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)

Billy Davies was sacked by Derby in 2007 (Image credit: Getty Images)

After 23 matches, the worst team in history had collected seven points, one more than Southampton at the same point this season.

They sacked their manager, Billy Davies, in late November. Paul Jewell took over but couldn’t rescue a squad that was exceptionally poor by the admission of its own players after the fact.

Captain Robbie Savage has spoken openly about the difficult environment for Derby’s players in 2007/08, identifying some issues with attitude and a devastating losing habit that took the Rams down with barely a bleat.

Jewell only lasted a year in the job. Derby brought in Nigel Clough in December 2009 and finished 18th in the Championship. They have not returned to the Premier League and spent two seasons in the third tier before being promoted back to the Championship in 2023/24.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 17 : Remi Garde manager of Aston Villa talks to the press during a press conference at the club's training ground at Bodymoor Heath on March 17, 2016 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)

Aston Villa were finally relegated under Remi Garde in 2016 after years of stagnation (Image credit: Getty Images)

Which other teams came close to Derby’s record?

The previous holders of the unwanted record for the worst Premier League season were Sunderland (15 points), who were relegated from the top flight in 2005/06 and scored only 22 goals in the process.

Huddersfield Town (16 points) might have been even closer to Derby’s record if they hadn’t done the double over Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018/19. Those six juicy points topped up their total, making them the third-worst team in Premier League history.

The Terriers snatched that questionable accolade away from Aston Villa (17 points) and might have grounds for appeal.

Huddersfield might have won one point fewer than Villa’s dismal relegation team but at least they haven’t spent the better part of a decade listening to Micah Richards laughing about it on ex-players’ podcasts.

The bottom five is completed by Sunderland (19 points) who managed just 21 goals in 2002/03, losing their last 15 matches and chasing both Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson out of the dugout during the campaign.

Chris Nee

Chris is a freelance writer and the author of the High Protein Beef Paste football newsletter. He's based in Warwickshire and is the Head of Media for Coventry Sphinx.

Read more
 West Bromwich Albion Fans celebrate on the pitch after avoiding relegation at the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth at The Hawthorns on May 15, 2005 in West Bromwich, England.
‘Bryan Robson took us to Florida to unwind before 2005’s Great Escape, then results changed’ to this day Robert Earnshaw admits he has no idea how West Brom avoided relegation 20 years ago having been bottom at Christmas
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim, wearing a black coat, applauds the fans at the end of the FA Cup fifth round match against Fulham at Old Trafford on 2 March, 2025
Statistically Speaking... Manchester United facing 50-year low
Mikel Merino celebrates scoring the 2nd Arsenal goal with (L) Ethan Nwaneri and (2ndL) Riccardo Calafiori during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Arsenal FC at Brentford Community Stadium on January 01, 2025 in Brentford, England.
Premier League supercomputer predicts shock final standings, with multiple sides experiencing record-breaking seasons
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 2: Ruben Amorim the head coach / manager of Manchester United reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Crystal Palace FC at Old Trafford on February 2, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is already statistically WORSE than Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford
Justin Kluivert of AFC Bournemouth celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal and his hat-trick goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and AFC Bournemouth at Molineux on November 30, 2024 in Wolverhampton, England.
The crazy stat that shows high-flying Bournemouth should be even better
 Natalia Arroyo, Manager of Aston Villa, looks on following the Barclays Women's Super League match between Aston Villa FC and Manchester United FC at Villa Park on March 23, 2025 in Birmingham, England.
"I am just as scared as the players are, I don't want to be the manager of a relegated team," Aston Villa boss on prospects of top-flight survival
Latest in Premier League
James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Tottenham and Manchester City could smash transfer record for British wonderkid: report
Arsenal squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal with teammates during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal warned, as Real Madrid are coming for their star next: report
Newcastle United's Dan Burn battles with Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on February 26, 2025.
I watch every football game on this TV - and it's been discounted by £210 in the Amazon Spring Deal Days
Dean Huijsen of AFC Bournemouth scores the opening goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Vitality Stadium on December 05, 2024 in Bournemouth, England
Bournemouth star wanted by Real Madrid in statement summer deal: report
Rasmus Hojlund is struggling in front of goal
'I think obviously I’ve not been on top of my game as I wanted to. It’s not all about goals - I know I'm not the finished article, but I just want to keep going' Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund opens up on reason for recently-ended goal drought
Dan Burn of Newcastle United (33) arrives for the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield on February 26, 2025 in Liverpool, England
'It was very emotional two years ago, not just for the players but for the whole city. This time I feel as though we believe that we should be doing that on a regular basis' Dan Burn is ready to crown an England call-up with a trophy for Newcastle United
Latest in Features
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola holds aloft the Premier League trophy at the Etihad in May 2023.
Quiz! Can you name every Premier League champion... in just 90 seconds?
 Sheila Garcia of Real Madrid CF battle for the ball with Alessia Russo of Arsenal FC during the UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Finals First Leg match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on March 18, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.
'Over two legs I expected Arsenal to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League, I still think they can despite being 2-0 down,' says former Lioness Izzy Christiansen
Luiz Diaz of Colombia celebrates with James Rodriguez of Colombia after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers match between Brazil and Colombia at Arena BRB Mane Garrincha.
How to watch Colombia vs Paraguay: Live streams for World Cup qualifier
Uruguay's Argentine head coach Marcelo Bielsa (R) gives instructions during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Uruguay and Argentina at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, on March 21, 2025.
How to watch Bolivia vs Uruguay: Live streams for Conmebol World Cup qualifying
BRASILIA, BRAZIL - MARCH 20, 2025: Vinicius Junior of Brazil in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers match between Brazil and Colombia at Arena BRB Mane Garrincha.
How to watch Argentina vs Brazil: Live streams for blockbuster World Cup qualifier
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield on March 08, 2025 in Liverpool, England.
Quiz! Can you name FourFourTwo's greatest Premier League players ever?