Shame! Southampton destined to share Premier League record

In a cruel, alternative universe, Saturday's match between Leicester City and Saints would have been a play-off to determine relegation to League One.

On the same day, Luton Town were demoted to the third division, having finished just six points from safety in the Premier League 12 months ago.

The St Mary's side, after their 2-0 defeat at King Power Stadium and with three games left to play, are 25 points adrift of safety, and 10 behind 19th. 

Before Luton this week, Sunderland, in 2017/18, were the last team to drop from the Premier League to League One in back to back seasons.

Such a fate is statistically unlikely to befall any of the relegated three this time around, but it is a warning sent that amidst chaos, nothing is secure.

Saints visited Leicester already knowing that relegation was guaranteed; they could probably scrape finishing above the Foxes, maybe.

Saints will finish bottom of the Premier League this season (Image: Matt Watson / Southampton FC)

It was more about pride; firstly, and chiefly, surpassing the 11 point record set by Derby County during the humiliating 2007/08 season.

Secondly, it was about a bit of revenge. "We owe them a few results," said Ryan Manning, referencing a 4-1 and 5-0 loss last season. 

Thirdly, it was simply about not being second best in a meeting between two of the worst teams to ever grace the Premier League. Fat chance.

Fat chance, despite that Leicester had not scored in 12 hours of league football at home, losing nine matches in a row and on the verge of history.

As it happens, Wolves, in 1984/85, remain the only team in the top four tiers of English football to ever fail to score in 10 consecutive home matches.

It took only 17 minutes for Jamie Vardy to get his farewell tour back on track, left unmarked in the box as a stunning show of respect to his career.

Their second goal, struck by Jordan Ayew before half-time, was the 82nd conceded by Saints this season - they last conceded 83 in 1967/68.

Leicester had shipped 49 goals in 21 Premier League games under manager Ruud van Nistelrooy. Not many teams had ever managed worse. 

If they conceded against Saints, it would have been the joint-second fastest a team has conceded 50 under a boss since George Burley at Ipswich.

With their goalkeeper sidelined by injury, and five other starting players from last weekend also out, they kept a first clean sheet since October 5.

"My mate went yesterday and said that was one of the worst games he’s been to for a long time, it's really sad," read a message we received today.

One pleasing aspect of the day was Jay Robinson's 33 minutes. The 18 year old examples the academy's current successes, that deserve mention.

But Southampton have been beaten 28 times in 35 matches this campaign - the Premier League record of most defeats in a season stands at 30. 

And as such, Saints will finish bottom in the Premier League for a record-tying third time, with two of those finishes coming in the last three seasons.

They will likely tie Derby on 11 points, with only Manchester City, Everton's highly charged final game at Goodison Park, and Arsenal to play.

"You've just made my day even worse," said interim boss Simon Rusk, when he was reminded of his side's remaining three fixtures this week. 

The continuous Mateus Fernandes chanting was an embarrassing display for Rusk, but the bigger picture is that this situation is not his fault. 

Star man Mateus Fernandes was withdrawn after 57 minutes (Image: Matt Watson / Southampton FC)

Fans will remember this Saints team as the worst in their lifetime; they will think the 2010/11 League One team would beat it - everyone else does.

Some staff and players - a small minority - have, bullishly, challenged media over criticism this season. They should have their tail between their legs.

It might get to the point where we have to celebrate a goal difference win over 2007/08 Derby. Southampton's lead is 12 goals, currently...

Southampton's predicament all stems from mismanagement at the very top of the club. Five years of Gao Jisheng ran the coffers completely dry.

Sport Republic, a shiny and new but inexperienced investment firm, picked up Saints in January 2022 and the money tap turned back on.

But they sought to completely change the landscape of their new club so dropped a nuclear bomb on it, and the ensuing chaos was costly.

A loss of direction, underwhelming manager appointments and unsuccessful transfer windows saw Saints lose Premier League status in 2023.

It was the first time in over a decade that the club had not been in the top flight, and it might have been the worst time to drop out of it.

Recent yo-yoing has meant that this season, 17 clubs had at least three years of Premier League finances against the one or two of the promoted clubs.

For the first time in history, the promoted three have been relegated in successive seasons, and they will face the same challenge next season.

It was the perfect storm for an underprepared team like Saints, without a director of football and with their manager, who had never taken charge of a Premier League team before, leading their transfer window, to flop.

Perhaps it is not comparable anymore but Derby finished 18th in the Championship season that followed their unceremonious dismissal.

Technical director Johannes Spors has already hinted at a high turnover of players this summer; getting their replacements right is so important.

Spors is also leading the recruitment process for a new manager, something Saints should not rush but seek to complete swiftly and orderly.

Under Spors, Saints believe they can turn this mess around and win promotion back to the Premier League again - but it is one almighty mess.