5 Premier League seasons which proved the importance of a stable defence

#1 2004/05 - Southampton

The 2004/05 season will go down as the best example which shows the importance of having a dependable back-four. Everton and Southampton scored an identical number of goals during the course of the season but found themselves in the extreme ends of the table as the former finished in top-four while the latter finished bottom of the table.

The Saints scored 45 goals in their 38 games and ranked 11th in terms of number of goals scored. But their defence let them down as they conceded 66 goals which averages to nearly 1.75 goals per game. Nine teams managed to score three or more goals against them showing their vulnerability at the back. Only Norwich City had conceded more goals than Southampton as the Canaries let in 77 goals which led to their relegation as well.

One of the major reasons for Southampton's failure at the back was Andreas Jakobsson who had a dismal season throughout. The Swedish international spent just a single season in England and had a poor stay in the league which saw him move to his home at the end of the season. Southampton racked up seven own goals in which Andreas Jakobsson was involved thrice. The centre-back's poor run of form meant that the Saints kept a mere 7 cleansheets out of 38 games they played during the season.

At the other end of the table, the Toffees enjoyed an excellent season despite scoring the same number of goals as the bottom-placed team. An excellent display at the back ensured a top-four finish as their defence stood rock-solid, keeping 13 cleansheets in the process. This 29-point gap proves the importance of stable performance at the back in crucial games.