The one team feared by the likes of City, United and Arsenal - the Premier League 'bogey team'

29 September 2014 09:46

Sunderland vs Manchester City. This fixture is not one which neutrals will cross on the calendar, yet it is one of the most fascinating match ups in recent years. For the past four seasons, Manchester City’s invested success has seen them consecutively finish in the top four. For the past four seasons, Sunderland have been fighting relegation battles. However, Sunderland boast the record of beating City 1-0 in each of the last four encounters at the Stadium of Light.

Coincidence, you might say. Yet to what extent is something a coincidence when it continues to repeat itself? It is at this point which we don Sunderland, Manchester City’s bogey team. The term ‘bogey team’ refers to a club which manages to overcome superior opposition, despite apparent weakness.

Intrigued by this, I decided to discover which Premier League club has a knack of beating the heavyweights – who is the resident bogey team of the Premier League? After a few scribbles and tossed paper into the bin, I conjured up a formula to work it out.

I took the top six placed teams in the Premier League in each of the last three seasons and recorded all the losses these teams acquired to clubs outside of the top six in each of those seasons.

Delving into recent history recovered some great upsets such as Cardiff 3-2 City, Arsenal 0-2 Swansea and Chelsea 0-1 QPR. The research showed that 20 different teams outside the top six claimed 62 results against the top six in the last three seasons. Interestingly, 76% of these shock results occurred at the home ground of the ‘lesser’ team, outlining the importance of home support when facing top six clubs.

Quirks also emerged in the study which saw that QPR have a trait of beating London rivals at Loftus Road, where they defeated Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea (x2) in their last two seasons in the league. Yet when it came to the outright bogey team of the Premier League, there were two clear winners.

Though currently flagging a couple more bumless seats in the Championship, Carrow Road witnessed five bum-lifting triumphs during the Norfolk club’s three year tenure in English football’s top flight, along with one away win at White Hart Lane in their debut season back in the top flight.

With six wins to their name, Sunderland also warrant the title as the Premier League’s bogey team; defeating City (x3), Everton (x2) and Chelsea in the last three seasons. Though continuing to struggle against relegation candidates, the Mackems in the stands do love the odd Goliath slaying.

Much was made of Sunderland’s “miracle” to avoid the drop last season, which saw them claim points at the home of both Manchester clubs as well as ending Jose Mourinho’s phenomenal unbeaten home record at Stamford Bridge. It will be compelling to see whether Sunderland can prolong their label and, I, for one, will certainly be marking on the calendar the next Sunderland v Man City match up. I wonder what the score will be.

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Source: DSG