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Crystal Palace And Newcastle Among Longest Premier League Droughts

By Marco Antonio Reyes • 2 min read • 18 September 2026
Crystal Palace and historic Premier League clubs enduring the longest goal droughts at the start of seasons

Crystal Palace and historic Premier League clubs enduring the longest goal droughts at the start of seasons

Crystal Palace holds the record for the longest goalless start to a Premier League campaign, enduring a staggering 641-minute drought during the 2017/18 season before finally finding the back of the net.

The miserable dry spell under Frank de Boer was eventually broken in their eighth match when Cesar Azpilicueta deflected a Yohan Cabaye effort past Thibaut Courtois against Chelsea.

Manager Roy Hodgson celebrated the milestone with immense relief, noting that any goal would have sufficed after such an interminable wait for the club.

Wilfried Zaha soon secured the winner in that fixture, immediately jumpstarting a campaign that had completely stalled out of the starting blocks.

Historic Premier League Goal Droughts Compared

Newcastle united

While starting a season without scoring creates immense pressure, historical precedents show that clubs can drastically turn their fortunes around after early offensive struggles.

Newcastle United similarly endured a painful start during the 2005/06 campaign under Graeme Souness, going 438 minutes without a goal before Charles N'Zogbia scored against Fulham.

Aston Villa faced a comparable 427-minute drought at the start of the 2025/26 season, yet managed to recover brilliantly under Unai Emery to secure a top-four finish and Europa League glory.

Other notable historical struggles include Swansea City's 374-minute barren run in 2011/12 and Sheffield Wednesday's 371-minute drought back in the 1993/94 season.

Topics
premier league crystal palace newcastle united aston villa swansea city sheffield wednesday football sports
Football & Global Leagues Journalist

Marco Antonio Reyes is a football journalist based in the United States with a specialization in global football and major leagues. With extensive coverage of the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and international tournaments, he delivers match analysis, transfer news, and in-depth coverage of clubs and national teams. His articles are a go-to source for football enthusiasts.