Is it possible to survive being bottom after six games? Coral find out…
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A surprising number of teams have stayed up
Crystal Palace may have started the season with six defeats from six games, but there’s still solace to be had for Roy Hodgson’s men.
In the last decade five of the teams rooted to the foot of the table after six games have gone on to avoid relegation.
The Coral News Team takes a look at the fortunes of the worst Premier League starters over the last 10 years.
Sunderland, 2016-17
After a start to the season which included five defeats and a single draw, time finally appeared to be catching up on Sunderland. Like Palace they had a proven goalscorer. But also like Palace, they were shipping goals for fun and had no answer to their troubles at home.
The Black Cats would go on to win just six games all season long as the David Moyes reign brought to a close ten consecutive seasons of top-flight football on Wearside.
Sunderland, 2015-16
Making their second appearance on the list, Sunderland kicked the 2015-16 campaign off with two draws and four defeats. And things didn’t really start improving for the North-East side until after the Christmas period.
Under Sam Allardyce the Black Cats nabbed 27 points from their last 19 games to secure survival.
Burnley, 2014-15
Back in the big time after four years away, Burnley began the campaign in slow if unspectacular fashion. The Clarets occupied bottom spot in the table after picking up three points from their opening six games.
A hat-trick of 0-0 draws proved the Turf Moor club’s defensive solidity. It was going forward that Sean Dyche’s side lacked the clinical touch. They finished the season in nineteenth place after clocking up just 28 goals and 33 points.
Sunderland, 2013-14
Sunderland survived despite only taking one point from the first 18 available. Paolo Di Canio was soon dismissed, paving the way for Gus Poyet to take the reins.
The Uruguayan had the Midas touch. After a slow start, the ex-Chelsea man led the Black Cats to ten victories and a sixteenth place finish.
Queens Park Rangers, 2012-13
QPR began the season full of hope. They ended it two managers down and staring relegation to the Championship in the face.
It was a disastrous campaign from start to finish. The West Londoners picked up two points from their opening six games and didn’t claim a first league victory until December. The Hoops finished the season bottom of the table on 25 points.
Bolton Wanderers, 2011-12
Bolton dropped down to the Championship after their longest run in the top division for 48 years. A disastrous start set the tone for what would prove to be a hugely disappointing campaign.
Victory on the opening day over Crystal Palace proved to be their last points of any kind until mid-October. The Trotters went on separate sequences of six and five-game losing runs before suffering relegation on the final day of the season at Stoke City.
Everton, 2010-11
Three points from six games left Everton rooted to the bottom of the table. Manager David Moyes soon arrested the run though and the Toffees went unbeaten in their next seven.
After a tumultuous Christmas period the Merseyside club ended the season in excellent form. Five wins from seven propelled the Blues up the league and towards their final resting place in seventh.
Portsmouth, 2009-10
The only other side to start a Premier League season with no points from their opening six games. Pompey did at least score three goals in their opening six games, even if a first league win was not forthcoming until October.
There was little solace for the South Coast side as the season rolled on. They picked up just seven wins in total and suffered the ignominy of a nine-point deduction after entering administration. They ended the season bottom of the table.
Tottenham Hotspur, 2008-09
With Juande Ramos in the dugout, Spurs made their worst start in Premier League history. Four defeats and two draws from their opening six matches left the Spaniard teetering on the brink.
Ramos was soon relieved of his duties, paving the way for Harry Redknapp to take over at White Hart Lane. Things soon improved as the new manager guided Spurs to a comfortable eighth place finish.
Bolton Wanderers, 2007-08
In a season that would include a trip to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup, Bolton started their domestic campaign in dire fashion. Sammy Lee’s Trotters lost their first three before victory over Reading lifted some of the pressure.
That relief didn’t last long, though, and Gary Megson was quickly installed in the hotseat. Things soon started to improve at the Reebok Stadium, as the Trotters finished the season in sixteenth place.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
