Southampton aimed a dig at Derby County on social media after passing the Rams’ worst Premier League points total.
The Saints had been tipped by many to come out worse than Derby did in the 2007-8 season, when they were relegated from the top flight with just 11 points accumulated in 38 games.
Simon Rusk’s men had been on 11 points since drawing with West Ham in mid-April, with fans keeping on eye on the goal difference – Southampton are on minus 57, while Derby finished on minus 69.
Those fans feared the worst with the club still having City and Arsenal to play in their final three games, and they were also keen to move clear of Derby to ensure they didn’t have the joint-worst total to their names.
To their relief, they have now done that, drawing 0-0 with Pep Guardiola’s men on Saturday afternoon in what was a resilient defensive performance that saw them face 26 shots on their goal.
And their social media team then didn’t waste any time in taking aim at Derby, as they took to X to tag them in a post reminding them of one of their darkest seasons.
Southampton took aim at Derby on social media after surpassing the Rams’ all-time worst Premier League points total
The Rams scored a record-low points tally of 11 – that still stands to this day in the top flight
Southampton moved up to 12 points this season with a 0-0 draw with Manchester City on Saturday afternoon
‘Sorry if we got your hopes up, @dcfcofficial,’ the Saints account posted to its 1.6million followers after full-time.
Derby are yet to respond, though some fans did raise their eyebrows in the replies of the post.
‘Unbelievably tinpot, this,’ one Saints fan page posted in response, while another added: ‘This isn’t the flex you think it is.’
A third wrote: ‘Imagine bragging about being the second worst team in Premier League history.’
Derby’s manager at the end of that season, Paul Jewell, told Mail Sport in January: ‘When you’re cut off adrift, it is a downward spiral. You feel the Gods are against you.
‘We were short of Premier League quality and couldn’t build up a head of steam. If you are within touching distance, you have hope. But we weren’t, and neither are Southampton.
‘The stigma of being Derby’s manager that season will never leave me. I’ve never believed it could be beaten.’
‘I wouldn’t wish that record on my worst enemy. At the same time it would be nice for someone else to have it.’
A number of fans, however, didn’t see the funny side of things in the replies of the post on X
Then-manager Paul Jewell said that his side ‘were short of Premier League quality’
Saints have surpassed the total and have shown some improvement under Simon Rusk (right)
Southampton will face Derby in league action next season after their relegation to the Championship, with the Rams securing survival on the final day.
Last time they faced off, in 2019, Derby got the better of their opponents in an FA Cup third round replay, winning 5-3 on penalties.
