Issues are wanting bleak for Southampton.
The season has reached the halfway mark and the Saints discover themselves all-time low with simply six factors following Sunday’s by Crystal Palace.
Even Derby County in 2007-08 – the worst staff in Premier League historical past – had extra factors at this stage.
BBC Sport seems on the numbers to see if Southampton are on their option to stealing that undesirable accolade.
Why are Southampton struggling?
It has been a tough return to top-flight motion for Southampton after their one-season keep within the Championship.
Russell Martin’s refusal to compromise on his possession-based rules brought on issues and he was sacked earlier this month with just one Premier League win below his belt.
The Saints have shipped 39 targets, with solely Wolves and Leicester conceding extra, and their 11 errors resulting in targets is essentially the most by a aspect throughout Europe’s huge 5 leagues this time period.
The struggles proceed on the different finish of the pitch. Regardless of being ranked sixteenth for giant probabilities created (37), Southampton have scored a league-low 12 targets.
With a mere two targets every, Cameron Archer, Joe Aribo, Tyler Dibling and Adam Armstrong are the main contenders for the membership’s prime scorer award.
Will Southampton substitute Derby as worst staff ever?
Derby’s 2007-08 season was so unhealthy that Paul Jewell, who took cost of 24 video games throughout that point, stated his managerial profession .
The Rams completed the marketing campaign with the bottom factors tally ever seen within the league (11) and a -69 aim distinction. They received just one recreation.
But after 19 video games that they had seven factors – yet another than Southampton do now.
However Southampton can take coronary heart from Sheffield United’s 2020-21 season.
The Blades appeared heading in the right direction to switch Derby because the Premier League’s worst staff once they entered the season’s midway stage with simply 5 factors.
Sadly for Derby, Sheffield United – though they nonetheless completed backside – had 23 factors come the top of the season.
How doubtless is relegation for Southampton?
Whereas Southampton’s stats might not seem fairly as regarding as Derby’s, the numbers recommend Premier League survival is not on the playing cards for the Saints.
Within the final 122 years, solely 5 groups have had six factors or fewer at this stage in an English prime flight season. All 5 went on to be relegated.
The Opta supercomputer has given Southampton a 0.7% probability of staying up.
Can Juric flip it round?
After a torrid first half of the season, the membership are actually getting into a brand new period below Ivan Juric.
The Croat has arrived on the south coast optimistic, saying Southampton are able to “one thing distinctive” of their combat towards relegation.
In Juric’s first recreation in cost – – the Saints appeared vigorous with a extra direct method with 6ft 7in striker Paul Onuachu up entrance, whereas they had been additionally in a position to restrict their opponents to only two pictures heading in the right direction.
Nevertheless it was a much less promising image towards Crystal Palace, who dominated play after battling again to take the lead.
“We’ve got gamers who can compete. We’re competing and we’ve got to be significantly better within the particulars,” Juric informed BBC’s Match of the Day after the sport.
“They’re preventing each recreation. We’ve got to consider, there is no such thing as a different possibility.”