Wolves: Premier League Doomed? Stats Reveal All.

The atmosphere at Molineux was thick with discontent. A chorus of boos cascaded down after Wolves succumbed to yet another Premier League defeat, their seventh consecutive loss. The recent match against Nottingham Forest was particularly painful, marking the fifth straight game where they failed to find the back of the net. This dismal scoring record even led the club to scrap their “Goal of the Month” award for November. Their last league victory was a distant memory, 18 matches ago in April. The Forest defeat left Rob Edwards’ team languishing with a mere two points from 14 games. The weekend’s results compounded their misery, leaving them a daunting 13 points adrift of safety heading into their next game against Manchester United.

Following the Forest debacle, Edwards acknowledged the fans’ frustration, admitting he “understood” their reaction and empathized, stating he would be “really angry” if he were in their shoes.

Their abysmal form has sparked concerns that Wolves might struggle to even surpass the infamous 11-point total amassed by Derby County in the 2007-08 season, which remains the lowest in Premier League history. Wolves’ current points-per-game average projects them to finish with a paltry five points.

Comparing the Catastrophes: Wolves vs. Derby County

So, how do Wolves’ current struggles compare to Derby County’s disastrous campaign after 14 games?

Glimmers of Hope? Historical Precedents

In a small dose of positive news for Wolves supporters, history offers some solace. In recent seasons, several struggling teams have been tipped to potentially break Derby’s record, only to eventually muster enough points to avoid that ignominy.

• Huddersfield Town (2018-19): The Terriers endured a miserable campaign but managed to reach 16 points.

• Norwich City (2019-20 & 2021-22): Norwich struggled similarly in two separate seasons but rallied to accumulate 21 and 22 points respectively.

• Sheffield United (2020-21): After 14 games, Sheffield United mirrored Wolves’ current record but ultimately powered on to reach 16 points.

• Southampton (2022-23): Last season, many believed Southampton’s dire performance would see them surpass Derby. They narrowly avoided it, finishing with 12 points.

The Harsh Reality: Wolves are Worse Than Derby

Unfortunately, the positive comparisons largely end there. The grim truth is that Wolves are currently performing even worse than Derby County did at the same stage 18 years ago.

Derby, despite their struggles, had managed one win and eight draws after 14 games. Their sole victory came early in the season, at home against Newcastle, in their sixth match. After 14 matches, Derby had secured three more draws, giving them a total of six points, significantly more than Wolves’ current two.

Statistical Nuances: Small Consolation

Edwards’ side does hold a slight advantage in some statistical areas. They have scored seven goals (compared to Derby’s four) and conceded 29 (compared to Derby’s 33) at this point in the season.

However, these are minor victories in the grand scheme of things. Wolves’ seven-game losing streak has included defeats against teams like Sunderland, Burnley, Fulham, and Nottingham Forest.

While Wolves have faced fewer shots (182 to 209), Derby’s attacking shot tally of 132 edges out Wolves’ 127.

Wolves have generally enjoyed more possession and completed more passes than Derby did at the corresponding stage of their season, but this reflects the evolution of football tactics rather than any significant achievement.

Hope for Improvement?

Edwards must hope that the worst is behind his team. There have been moments of near success. For instance, they were unlucky not to earn a point at Aston Villa recently after Jorgen Strand Larsen had a goal controversially disallowed before Boubacar Kamara’s late winner.

Wolves’ squad is arguably superior to Derby’s, boasting several international players, including the Brazilian midfield duo of Andre and Joao Gomes. However, some fans question the squad’s collective Premier League experience, a deficiency that Derby undoubtedly suffered from.

It’s worth noting that Derby’s best period of the season occurred in the early stages, with their first 10 games yielding six points. They subsequently gained only five points from their remaining 28 matches, enduring lengthy losing streaks of seven, six, and five games on their way to relegation.

A Grueling December Awaits

Wolves supporters will be desperately hoping for an immediate turnaround in fortunes. However, their December schedule is daunting, featuring two encounters against Manchester United, as well as matches against Arsenal, Liverpool, and Brentford.

The club finds itself in a precarious position, compounded by ongoing protests against the unpopular ownership group, Fosun. Despite the challenges, Edwards remained defiant after the Forest defeat.

“We don’t want to die like that and go out with a whimper,” he asserted. “It looked bleak when we arrived, and we can only affect what we can do.

“We haven’t won for a long time, and we’ve got to find a way to win even when we’re poor. I asked the players at half-time if they were scared, because it looked that way.”

Wolves vs. Derby: A Statistical Comparison After 14 Games