Southampton’s shambolic return to the Premier League has lasted just one season after relegation was confirmed today.
Defeat to Tottenham Hotspur condemned the Saints to second-tier football next season, with their drop down a division confirmed in record-breaking fashion.
After Southampton slumped to relegation in early April, we’ve remembered the earliest relegations in Premier League history.
The earliest relegations in Premier League history
Ipswich Town, Six games remaining, 1994/95 Season
Ipswich Town became the first team to be relegated from the Premier League with as many as six games to go in 1994/95.
In fairness to The Tractor Boys, this was a 42-game season and one that had four teams relegated. Still, it was a fairly miserable campaign at Portman Road, that included a record-breaking 9-0 defeat at Manchester United. No Premier League team has ever been beaten by a bigger scoreline.
Derby County, Six games remaining, 2007/08 Season
When talk turns to the worst sides in Premier League history, Derby County’s 2007/08 ‘vintage’ are often the first that spring to mind.
The Rams’ relegation was confirmed with six games to go, in a campaign that saw Derby win just once all season. Their 11 points remains the lowest haul in Premier League history.
Southampton could yet take that infamous record this season…
Huddersfield Town, Six games remaining, 2018/19
Huddersfield upset the odds to secure promotion to the Premier League and narrowly avoided the drop on their return to the top tier – despite scoring the joint-fewest goals in the league.
However, a second season of struggle saw the Terriers relegated with six games to play. Their goalscoring issues were again apparent with just 22 scored in 38 games. With 76 conceded, it was a recipe for relegation.
Sheffield United, Six games remaining, 2020/21
Has there been a bigger case of Second Season Syndrome than this?
In 2019/20, Sheffield United thrived under Chris Wilder, with a flexible formation and under-lapping centre-backs helping the Blades to a ninth-place finish.
Just a year later, Sheffield United were relegated without as much as a fight. A place in the Championship was confirmed with six games still to play.
Southampton, Seven games remaining, 2024/25 season
There’s huge concern over a growing gap between the Premier League and Championship. This season has added weight to that view. For the second straight season it looks like all three promoted teams will go down, having occurred just once in the previous 31 years.
Southampton have looked out of the in-depth from the opening weeks of the season and have set a new record for relegation in the quickest time. Beaten 3-1 at Spurs, the Saints are the first team to go down with seven games to go.
Fair play to the Southampton fans showing their sense of humour at 2-0 down to Tottenham. pic.twitter.com/oFZSazBzBH
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) April 6, 2025
They’ve won just twice all season and have mustered only 10 ...
