Comfort for Fulham fans: The worst starts in Premier League history

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The Premier League is a truly global phenomenon, with hundreds of millions of fans worldwide fostering a multi-billion pound industry, attracting the best players from around the planet, and rewarding them with astronomical wages. 

Whilst the Premier League therefore creates an exciting product for its customers, the ever increasing gulf of class between teams at the top and those at the bottom has led to an intimidating atmosphere for clubs of more modest success, not least newly promoted sides. 

Fulham have been the unfortunate whipping boys of in the league so far this season, although a narrow defeat against fellow promoted side Leeds, and a last minute equaliser against Sheffield United, will have hurt Scott Parker’s men more so than the no-shows against the likes of Aston Villa. Optimism is understandably already low at Craven Cottage, and many Fulham fans are even secretly considering the controversial move of wagering on their team to get relegated, particularly given that they can be backed with a free bet no deposit at very short odds to go down.

However, whilst Fulham have endured a tough start to the season, with 4 defeats in as many matches before the international break in October, they still have some way to go before they arguably emulate some of the worst starts in Premier League history:

Derby County – 2007/2008

This torrid season endured by the Rams has entered English football legend for all the wrong reasons. 

Whilst newly promoted Derby managed to avoid defeat on the first day, registering a respectable 2 all draw against Portsmouth, the wheels quickly and dramatically fell off. As the defeats mounted up, incandescent fans rallied against the board, and Trevor Birch and Peter Gadsby fled their respective positions as Chief Executive and Chairman before the end of October. 

Manager Billy Davies wouldn’t last until Christmas, being replaced with Paul Jewell, but even his previous success at saving clubs like Bradford City from relegation could not be replicated at a rotten Derby side. 

Fulham themselves delivered the final mercy blow with a 2-2 draw in March at Pride Park seeing Derby relegated with a record low 11 points. 

Sheffield Wednesday – 1999-2000

If Wednesday’s flimsy millennium season can provide any wisdom to other clubs, it is the importance of a strong start. Whilst Wednesday were eventually relegated alongside Watford and Wimbledon, they did not suffer the type of calamitous season that many relegated sides can endure, only missing out on safety by 5 points. However, a disastrous start which included an 8-0 defeat by Newcastle in September following a 4-0 humbling by Manchester City ultimately came back to haunt them.

Aston Villa 2015-2016

Villa look to have finally found their man in boyhood fan Dean Smith. After narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day last season, Villa have made an impressive start to the 2020-2021 season, with a historic 7-2 victory over Liverpool leaving fans beaming before the international break. 

However, they were not always as lucky with managerial strength. In the 2015-2016 season, no less than four managers would take the helm at Villa Park. Tim Sherwood departed in October following 8 defeats in the first 10 games. Frenchman Remi Garde could not stop the rot, leaving in March, and Villa were relegated by April. Interim managers Eric Black and Kevin MacDonald failed to turn fortunes around throughout their respective stints, showing how a pitiful 6 points from their first 15 games led to a serious decline in fortunes later on.