GOAL DROUGHT OF STRUGGLERS

MANCHESTER CITY have already broken the Premier League record for the most goals scored in a season.

But, while the champions’ goals have come in a flood during a remarkable campaign, at the other end of the table there’s a drought that could prove even more significant to the Premier League’s health.

Ahead of the final games today, Stoke, West Brom and Swansea have scored just 91 goals between them in their 111 matches so far.

That has the potential to make them the lowestscoring relegated clubs since the 2005/06 season when Birmingham, West Brom and Sunderland mustered just 85 before dropping. More worryingly for the Premier League is the fact that since the 2010/11 season – when 135 goals were scored by the clubs relegated from the top flight – the totals notched by the bottom three have fallen dramatically.

It’s a far cry from when Blackpool scored 55 times on their own and still suffered the pain of relegation in 2010/11.

To put that in perspective, before today’s matches, only the top six this season have scored more than that Tangerines’ total.

Former Blackpool striker, now Southport gym owner, Brett Ormerod (above) recalled: “It cost us in the end, but we prided ourselves on being the Premier League’s great entertainers.

“Ian Holloway was adamant that we were there to enjoy it and to play good football.

“The money has gone astronomical in the past few years. And there’s so much cash now, clubs simply can’t afford to drop out of the Premier League.

“I’m really not surprised some are taking a more cautious route.

“It’s a real balance. Football is an entertainment business, but the financial cost of being relegated is absolutely huge.

“I wouldn’t have a go at any clubs for being cautious because of the massive sums involved.”