With the halfway mark of the Premier League season just one game away, Sheffield United currently sit in the dizzy heights of fifth place. They will have begun the season more concerned with avoiding relegation than anything else, but after equalling their record number of consecutive victories Chris Wilder’s side could be forgiven for looking up the table and not below them. Though at the current rate the Blades are accumulating points there is every chance that more records could be broken come the end of the season.
Sheffield United’s records points tally in a Premier League season stretches back to the league as we know its infancy in 1992/93, the debut campaign. Back then there was 22 teams in the division and the top five comprised of Manchester United, Aston Villa, Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers and QPR. But down in 14th, one of the football leagues founding members recorded 52 points from 42 games, and Sheffield United have never finished higher or accumulated more points since. Though currently, they are on course to change that.
Had there been just 20 teams in the division back in 1993 Sheffield United would have finished on 47 points, based on them earning an average of 1.23 per game. Already the Blades of today are only 19 points off that tally with 20 games of the season remaining, and there is a genuine chance they could not just beat their record but obliterate it if they continue in their current vein.
This season Wilder’s side have outdone themselves averaging 1.55 points per game, meaning if they continue in the same manner, they will finish the season on around 59 points. That total would beat their previous record haul by a margin of seven, in spite of having played four fewer fixtures.
It is a testament to the English manager that the conversation is even being had surrounding Sheffield United breaking their Premier League points total. They have been the surprise package of this campaign and a welcome change from the monotony of the usual six clubs fighting for Europe. There is still a long way to go, but they could yet become the greatest Blades side in the Premier League era.
