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Wolves have now gone 227 days without a Premier League victory, enduring three managerial changes, two sporting directors, one technical director, and conceding 41 goals in that time.

At the bottom of the table with just two points, they find themselves 13 points adrift of safety, and are already assured to occupy last place on Christmas Day.

Their recent 4-1 defeat at home to Manchester United marked their eighth consecutive loss in the league, equaling their longest losing streak in top-flight history, which dates back to the 1981-82 season.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s first-half equalizer was their first league goal since October 26.

With only two points accrued this season, Wolves share the record for the lowest total after 15 matches in the history of the top four divisions.

In protest against Fosun’s management of the club, frustrated Wolves supporters boycotted the first 15 minutes of the match against United—however, they may have regretted that decision.

Manager Rob Edwards acknowledged the fans’ dissatisfaction, stating, “I understand the frustration. I won’t dictate how fans should express themselves. I’d love for them to support the players, but they must see effort and commitment.” He added, “Mistakes were punished tonight, and that frustration permeated the stadium. The players are trying, and I appreciate the fans’ anger.”

He went on to say, “The league is incredibly tough, and we inherited a team that hasn’t won since April. I didn’t expect a quick turnaround.”

With relegation to the Championship looming, Wolves face the risk of breaking Derby County’s Premier League low of 11 points. The question now is: will Wolves avoid becoming the worst team in the league?

How did they reach this point?

It’s crucial to recognize that the current Premier League landscape is vastly different from that of Derby’s era, making comparisons somewhat unjust. This isn’t just a problem of the current season; since finishing seventh in 2018-19 and 2019-20, Wolves have gradually slipped down the table.

In the last five seasons, they’ve finished 13th, 10th, 13th, 14th, and 16th, necessitating managerial changes on multiple occasions to avoid further decline.

Edwards marks the fifth managerial change in four years and the third in less than a year, following the dismissals of Gary O’Neil and Vitor Pereira.

The constant reshuffling of managers has paralleled a significant overhaul of the squad, as Wolves have sold key players without adequately replacing them. Stars like Raul Jimenez, Ruben Neves, Adama Traore, Pedro Neto, Max Kilman, Conor Coady, and Joao Moutinho played pivotal roles in the club’s success under Nuno Espirito Santo, including a run to the Europa League quarter-finals in 2020. The departures of Nelson Semedo, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Matheus Cunha last summer are still felt acutely.

The five new signings in the past summer, with the exception of Jorgen Strand Larsen, who permanently transferred from Celta Vigo, arrived with no Premier League experience and are struggling to adapt.

Edwards has acknowledged the need for more seasoned players, which will be a focus in the January transfer window, although their ability to attract talent will depend on how dire their situation becomes.

Concerns have arisen regarding the squad’s cohesiveness due to the diversity of nationalities and varying fitness levels, with Edwards striving to elevate their performance to a standard of intensity he demands.

The Derby side of 2007-08 recorded just six points after the same number of matches played, and former striker Robert Earnshaw, part of that squad, understands the pitfalls of such a predicament. He told BBC Sport, “At Derby, club politics disrupted what transpired on the pitch. It felt like everyone had given up, with 20 matches to go, and a general sense of ‘we’re not going to make it’. There was a lot of negative talk.” He added, “It’s no coincidence that the team ended up at the bottom, struggling for points. The club practically relegated itself due to internal issues.”

Wolves fans have expressed their frustration with chants of “You’ve sold the team, now sell the club” directed at owners Fosun and executive chairman Jeff Shi from the South Bank. However, this sentiment is unlikely to shift Fosun’s strategy. Should relegation occur, they are expected to remain in control with no immediate plans to divest, although they are open to minority investments within Fosun Sports Group, having now initiated talks with former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor.

Last month, former director of player recruitment and development Matt Jackson was elevated to technical director—an appointment met with skepticism by fans eager for comprehensive changes.

Even before Pereira’s dismissal in November, this season was seen as a transitional phase, focusing on reducing the wage bill and transfer fees—while prioritizing homegrown talent for both the January window and beyond.

Can they escape becoming the Premier League’s worst team?

Wolves remain winless in their first 15 league games this season.

The all-time English record for a winless start in the top flight belongs to Bolton, who went 22 games without a victory in the 1902-03 season. Unsurprisingly, they finished at the bottom and were relegated from the First Division.

Sheffield United’s record of 17 games without a win in the Premier League is also in jeopardy.

To avoid equaling that record, Wolves must secure victories against either Arsenal or Brentford, followed by challenging away games at Liverpool and Manchester United to close the year.

The record for the lowest points total ever registered at Christmas in the Premier League belongs to Sheffield United, who ended up with two points in 2020, although that was after just 14 matches due to a delayed season start caused by the pandemic. Sunderland holds the record for the lowest total at a season’s end, with five points from 17 games.

In the 2004 season, West Brom were in last place at Christmas, eight points adrift of safety, but under Bryan Robson, they made history by escaping relegation from such a position.

Earnshaw, who netted 11 goals in 18 starts to help the Baggies avoid relegation, believes Wolves currently lack the quality needed to stage a similar turnaround. He remarked, “They’re missing those key moments that can change games in an instant. Wolves are struggling to score goals and should be generating four or five quality chances each half. Their inability to find the net is concerning, and while they have some talented players like Andre, Joao Gomes, and Strand Larsen, something isn’t right. Is it a confidence issue or a lack of enthusiasm facing the challenge? If players are feeling dread, that’s a significant concern.”