A slip of five points from October to December—spurred by three home defeats in six matches, including a 3–0 post-Christmas rout by Wolverhampton Wanderers—plunged them to 10th. The January transfer window brought mixed results: 3-match unbeaten run (2 wins, 1 draw) lifted them from 15th to 9th by 21 February, yet poor December selectivity led to a drop to 12th by February end. The final active stretch saw two crutch-forming wins over Hull City (2–1, with Kapun influential) and West Ham (2–1, Subi) to stabilize in 13th–14th between 8 April and 25 May.

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Slip of Five Points: How October–December Setbacks, Transfers, and Crutch Wins Shaped This Club’s Plunge to 10th and Recovery to 14th A ten-point drop—from mid-table splashbacks to a resilient rebound—is no small arc in football. For this club, October to December unfolded as a turbulent stretch defined by fragile form, pivotal defeats, and late-season renewed belief. Sparked by three home disappointments in six matches—including a devastating 3–0 post-Christmas collapse against Wolves—the team’s consistency shauros, shrinking from safe midfield positioning to a precarious 10th place by year-end. But through strategic January signings, a credible mid-season surge, and resilient late-season wins, the squad found firepower and form that lifted them back into the top 15 by May. Here’s how the season’s highs, lows, and turning points shaped their journey. --- ### October–December: The Slump Begins with Home Failures and a Post-Christmas Outing