Sheffield United's record winless start to Premier League season – in pictures

The Blades' 2-0 defeat at Palace on Saturday made it 17 games without victory

SHEFFIELD UNITED'S WOEFUL RECORD - Game 1, September 14: Sheffield United 0 Wolves 2 (Jimenez 3', Saiss 6). Getty

Game 2, September 21: Aston Villa 1 (Konsa 63') Sheffield United 0. Getty

Game 3, September 27: Sheffield United 0 Leeds United 1 (Bamford 88'). Getty

Game 4, October 4: Arsenal 2 (Saka 61', Pepe 64') Sheffield United 1 (McGoldrick 84'). Getty

Game 5, October 18: Sheffield United 1 (Sharp pen 85') Fulham (Lookman 77') 1. Getty

Game 6, October 24: Liverpool 2 (Firmino 41', Jota 64') Sheffield United 1 (Berge pen 13'). Getty

Game 7, October 31: Sheffield United 0 Manchester City 1 (Walker 28'). Getty

Game 8, November 7: Chelsea 4 (Abraham 23', Chilwell 34', Thiago Silva 77', Werner 80') Sheffield United 1 (McGoldrick 9'). Getty

Game 9, November 22: Sheffield United 0 West Ham United 1 (Haller 56'). Getty

Game 10, November 28: West Bromwich Albion 1 (Gallagher 13') Sheffield United 0. Getty

Game 11, December 6: Sheffield United 1 (McBurnie 26') Leicester City 2 (Perez 24', Vardy 90'). Getty

Game 12, December 13: Southampton 3 (Adams 34', Armstrong 62', Redmond 83') Sheffield United 0. Getty

Game 13, December 17: Sheffield United 2 (McGoldrick (5' & 87') Manchester United 3 (Rashford 26' & 51', Martial 33'). Getty

Game 14, December 20: Brighton & Hove Albion 1 (Welbeck 87') Sheffield United 1 (Bogle 63'). Getty

Game 15, December 26: Sheffield United 0 Everton 1 (Sigurdsson 80'). Getty

Game 16, December 29: Burnley 1 (Mee 32') Sheffield United 0. Getty

Game 17, January 2: Crystal Palace 2 (Schlupp 4', Eze 45') Sheffield United 0. Getty

From the highs of a top-10 finish, to a record low of the worst winless start to a Premier League campaign – the slump of Sheffield United this season has been a dramatic one.

Their 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace meant that Chris Wilder's men are the first English top-flight side not to win any of their first 17 games in a season since Bolton Wanderers in 1902-03.

They have managed just two draws, scoring eight goals, conceding 29 along the way and their 15th defeat leaves them six points adrift at the bottom of the table, 12 away from safety.

After their latest defeat, at Selhurst Park on Saturday, Wilder admitted his team need an "incredible run" to avoid dropping down to the Championship.

"It was the perfect storm last season – players were at the top of their game and we had no injuries," said Wilder.

"Now injuries are hitting us quite hard... but we had enough on the pitch to get us a result. The result wasn't decided when the team sheet came in. It was decided in the fourth minute and the last 30 seconds of the first half.

"This club, over the past three, four years, is not used to losing games. It's difficult, it's a struggle, its ruthless and murders you at times with what you're up against.

"We have to do it sooner than later. There are records to be broken – we have to find a win from somewhere."

Where that win comes from, is another matter. After this weekend's potential banana skin against third-tier Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup third round, Sheffield United then face a tough run of fixtures in the league during January.

It kicks-off with two home games in a row – against Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur – then a daunting double trip to Manchester to take on United and then City in the space of three days. Potentially, the Blades could reach February still without a win to their name.

A game-by-game look at their catastrophic start can be seen in the gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe on the picture.