29 September – MW 6
BLADERUNNER
There isn’t too much to offer as consolation to Sheffield United fans after their 8-0 shellacking at the hands of Newcastle on Sunday but here we go. The good news for Blades fans is that in the last twenty seasons only four times has the club that suffered the heaviest defeat of the season been relegated – Norwich in 2013/14 and 2021/22, Aston Villa in 2015/16 and Hull in 2016/17.
At least they have been involved in breaking a Premier League record as this is the first time that eight different players have scored for the same team. And finally, Newcastle matched their highest score, which just happened to be against the other Sheffield club Wednesday in 1999. Hope that alleviates some of the pain.
PROMOTED TRIO’S STRUGGLES CONTINUE
Aside from Sheffield United’s humbling, Luton managed to pick up their first point, which means that all three promoted clubs have one each after 16 matches. The lowest ever total for three relegated clubs for an entire season was 76 in 2018/19 by Cardiff, Fulham and Huddersfield. After 16 matches those three had already picked up eight points.
With all three away this coming weekend any more points will be hard won as Luton travel to Goodison, Burnley go to St. James’ Park and Sheffield United are at West Ham. The better news is that Luton host Burnley next Tuesday so guaranteeing at least two more points will be added to their combined meagre total.
RED ALERT
Three more red cards last weekend took this season’s total to fourteen in 59 matches so although the ratio has dipped to one every four matches from the peak of one every three after MatchWeek 4. If the current rate continues it will mean that there will still be 90 dismissals in 380 matches, comfortably breaking the existing record of 75.
The Football Mine 