The 10 Best Teams to Get Relegated From The Premier League (Ranked)
Blogs

The 10 Best Teams to Get Relegated From The Premier League (Ranked)

What Are the Best Relegated Teams in Premier League History?

Since the reformation of England's top division to the Premier League in 1992, the likes of Derby County in 2008, Southampton in 2025 and Sunderland in 2006 have gone down as the worst sides to grace the top flight.

However, there are also times where teams hold their own, and earn what would usually be enough points t ostay up, but find themselves unlucky with the quality of others and are relegated to the second tier.

With that in mind, here are the 10 sides in Premier League history to have earned the most points but still gone down.

10: Blackpool 2010/11 (39 Points)

Blackpool were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in their history in 2010 and their first time in the top flight since 1971.

Ian Holloway's side were tipped to be out of their depth and go down as one of the worst teams to grace the division, but the Seasiders shocked everyone on the opening day by thrashing Wigan Athletic 4-0 to go top of the top flight for the first time since 1957.

Despite a 6-0 defeat at Arsenal the following week, Blackpool held their own ine opening weeks. Capturing the hearts of neutrals by playing ambitious football, with midfielder Charlie Adam the star of the team, the midfielder's performances was so good that the Scot was one of eight players nominated for the PFA Players Player of the Year at the end of the season.

Despite the quality of Adam and management of Holloway, Blackpool were relegated on the final day of the season after defeat at Old Trafford, going down by a single point finishing on 39.

9: Nottingham Forest 1992/93 (40 Points)

The early years of the Premier League was made up of 22 teams, with 42 games being played throughout the campaign.

In the inaugural season of the newly reformed English top flight saw all three sides go down with 40 or more points, totals that would surely keep teams up in the modern day.

The side that finished bottom that campaign was Nottingham Forest, still managed by the legendary Brian Clough and starring a young Roy Keane in midfield. Who finished the season as part of the PFA Team of the Year. But that couldn't stop Forest, who were champions of Europe just 12 years previously, finishing bottom of the table on 40 points.

Forest were relegated after a home defeat to Sheffield United on 1st May 1993, with Clough retiring at the end of the season after 18 years at the club.

8: Oldham Athletic 1993/94 (40 Points)

shutterstock_2591168693 (1).jpg

After narrowly escaping relegation during the first Premier League season the previous campaign, Oldham Athletic were condemned to the second division the previous campaign.

Manager Joe Royle, who was the longest serving manager in England having been at Boundary Park since 1982, oversaw a poor start to the season that saw one win in the first twelve matches.

An upturn in form around the beginning of 1994, including successive home wins and a draw away at Leeds United saw hope of survival increase for the Latics.

However, a run of defeats in the final run-in of the season, with three defeats in a row versus West Ham, Newcastle and Wimbledon, and a draw away at Norwich on the final day wasn't enough as their three year stay in the top flight came to an end.

7: Sunderland 1996/97 (40 Points)

The 1996-97 season was Sunderland's final season at their Roker Park stadium, before moving to their new 42,000 seater ground due to be ready for the summer of 1997.

However, the Wearsiders form would result in the first season in the new stadium was in the second tier, as they were narrowly relegated with 40 points, with 17th place Coventry City finishing on 41.

The first half of the season was relatively strong for Sunderland, as they sat in mid-table by the end of January. However, the final months of the season would see dismal form for manager Peter Reid's team.

By April, a run including four consecutive defeats saw them firmly in the fight for safety, but their form did not improve, and Sunderland were relegated on the final day after losing 0-1 at home in the final competitive game at Roker Park versus Wimbledon, with Coventry beating Tottenham to secure their survival.

6: Bolton Wanderers 1997/98 (40 Points)

Bolton Wanderers 1997-98 season was the club's first season at their new Reebok Stadium following 102 years playing at their previous ground Burnden Park, and their first campaign back in the Premier League, however it wouldn't prove to be memorable for the Trotters.

shutterstock_2676218051 (1).jpg

Wanderers began the season well, beating Southampton away from home 0-1 on the opening day. however, the next months would see just one win in the next thirteen matches as Bolton saw themselves fighting relegation in the second half of the season.

The club saw a winless run of twelve matches between early December and early March, claiming their first win of the new year on 14th March, before winning again the following weekend vs Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City respectively.

Three wins in the final six games however would not be enough for safety, as Bolton saw themselves unfortunately relegated on goal difference, with both them and Everton finishing on 40 points. However, the latter had a goal difference of -15 compared to Bolton's -20.

5: Sheffield United 1993-94 (42 Points)

shutterstock_1843511929 (1).jpg

Going back to the 42-game era of the Premier League, Sheffield United - who were looking to survive again in the Premier League's second season - saw a solid start to the season. WIth the Blades claiming two wins in the first four matches versus Wimbledon and Swindon Town.

However, Sheffield United would see just one more win before the turn of the year, winning once in 19 matches to see them in the relegation zone before beating Oldham Athletic on New Years Day.

Despite going on another winless run of four, a 2-2 draw on 5th March away at Tottenham Hotspur would be the start of an incredible run of form in the run-in. As the Blades went on an eight game unbeaten run, including a 1-2 win at Anfield for their first away win of the season.

The final four matches of the campaign saw two wins and a draw for Sheffield United, but a last day defeat to Chelsea saw them relegated by a single point on 42, with Ipswich Town surviving on 43.

4: West Ham United 2002/03 (42 Points)

West Ham United became the first team in the 38-game era of the Premier League to go down with 40 points or more during the 2002-03 season, as they went down on 42 points.

The Irons failed to win any of their first six games, losing five. Before beating Chelsea 2-3 away at Stamford Bridge in late September to claim their first victory of the campaign.

Two wins in the next three followed vs Sunderland and Fulham. However, the victory at Craven Cottage on 23rd October would prove to be there last in 2002, as a dismal run of form followed which saw no win in the next 14 fixtures.

At last victory came in late January at home to Blackburn Rovers, and that win would be the beginning of a strong second half form which saw West Ham lose just one of their final 11 matches. However a 2-2 draw away at Birmingham City would not be enough for safety as their early season form proved costly. With West Ham being relegated by two points.

3: Middlesbrough 1992-93 (44 Points)

The first season of the Premier League saw all three relegated sides finish on 40 or more points, with Middlesbrough finishing 19th that year on 44 points.

Boro started the campaign in strong form, with a opening day defeat to Coventry City being the only defeat in the first seven for the club, as they won four.

However, just three wins between late September and 2nd March, in which they only claimed ten points from a possible 54, would put the North East side fighting for survival with little hope in the final months.

However, despite a strong end of the season which saw two wins and a draw in the final three games, the spirited end wasn't enough to keep them up as they finished 21st in the table.

2: Crystal Palace 1994-95 (45 Points)

Despite there being one more season where a side was relegated with more points, Crystal Palace's 1994-95 season was perhaps the most unlucky.

The fourth season of the Premier League saw the division go from 22 teams to 20, meaning the 94-95 campaign would see four teams go down due to the change the following year, and Crystal Palace were the unlucky team to finish fourth bottom and go down in a unique scenario.

The Eagles start to the season was poor, as they won just once in their first ten, as they stunned Highbury to win 1-2 vs Arsenal. An impressive run of four wins in a row between 22nd October and 5th November would improve their chances of survival.

However, inconsistency would provve be Palace's downfall, and eventually, a run of five defeats in the final six matches saw them go down with 45 points.

1: Crystal Palace 1992-93 (49 Points)

Staying at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace's efforts of the first Premier League season remains the highest points from a relegated side in the league's history. A points total of 49 would easily be enough for teams to stay up in the modern day, but Palace weren't so lucky back in 1993.

shutterstock_2668001711 (1).jpg

The Eagles drew all four of their first four matches, before claiming their first win on the ninth matchweek vs Everton. However, that win would be their only in the first 17 matches before Palace would go on a run of five wins in a row in December.

Palace would hit form in the second half of the campaign, losing just twice in the final thirteen games as they looked to survive the inaugural Premier League season. And going into the final day it looked like they had potentially done just enough, however a 0-3 loss at Highbury would send the Eagles down on goal difference, with Oldham Athletic surviving with a better goal difference by two.

It's safe to say the early Premier League years were not to kind to Crystal Palace in their relegation battles.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist

Oliver Seymour

Freelance Content Writer

You May Also Like
See more
What Nottingham Forest Will Be Getting With Lorenzo Lucca's Arrival

What Nottingham Forest Will Be Getting With Lorenzo Lucca's Arrival

Arsenal FC: Seven Points Clear, Title Favourites...So Why are the Fans Miserable?

Arsenal FC: Seven Points Clear, Title Favourites...So Why are the Fans Miserable?

Fletcher, Carrick or Solskjaer? - Who Should be Man United's Interim Until The End of the Season?

Fletcher, Carrick or Solskjaer? - Who Should be Man United's Interim Until The End of the Season?

Videos
See more
Argentina's Massive Talent Pool | Off The Bar Podcast Episode 4 ft. Nacho Z
Seb & Colin Welcomes their first guest ‪@soynachoz‬ where they chat all things South American Football | Off the Bar Podcast Episod
Gyokeres Already a Failure? | Off The Bar Podcast Episode 3
Is Gyokeres already a flop? 🤔 VAR in the Championship & the West Ham Situation | Off The Bar with Colin & Seb Episode 3
Olise to win the next Ballon D'or | Off The Bar Podcast Episode 2
Did Dembele Deserve the Ballon D'or? 🏆 Olise the next winner? & players mental health! | Off The Bar with Colin & Seb Episode 2
Latest In Blogs
See more
These Players Need to be Worried About their 2026 World Cup Spots

These Players Need to be Worried About their 2026 World Cup Spots

Football Blog

Nobody is Talking About This Championship Over-Achiever... And That's What They Want

Nobody is Talking About This Championship Over-Achiever... And That's What They Want

EFL News

Top 10 American Players Who Moved Clubs in the January Transfer Window

Top 10 American Players Who Moved Clubs in the January Transfer Window

Blog

Join our newsletter

Become a part of our community and never miss an update from Football Park.