Sometimes, no matter how well you play, the ball just won’t go in the net.

Nobody knows that better than the five teams below. Since Opta began collecting shot data for every game in 2003, they are the only sides to have taken at least 35 shots in a Premier League game without scoring.

By definition, this makes them the bluntest attacks in recent Premier League history (in an individual match, at least) — but there is an array of goalscoring talent among these teams.

You know it is an unusual mix when Sean Dyche shares a list with Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.

Dyche is the only manager to be on either side of these games. He was sacked following Nottingham Forest’s 35 shots in a goalless draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and was also in the dugout when his Burnley team frustrated Mourinho’s Manchester United in a 0-0 draw in October 2016.

So, what was behind these statistical anomalies? Who pulled out heroic performances, and who wasted chances to win their team the game?

Chelsea 0 West Ham United 0, January 2014, 39 shots by Chelsea

Before this game at Stamford Bridge, West Ham were in the relegation zone in 18th place, while Mourinho’s Chelsea were third in the table and could have gone joint-top with Arsenal if they won.

West Ham’s intention was clear: secure a point that would lift them above the drop zone by any means. Sam Allardyce’s team had conceded 17 goals in their previous five games, but delivered an inspired defensive performance.

Mourinho accused them of time-wasting and was unhappy when only four minutes of stoppage time were announced.

“(I was) frustrated since the first minute,” the Portuguese manager said afterwards.

“They defended with their heart. I respect and praise that, but I don’t think it’s with these kinds of matches that we can sell the Premier League very expensively around the world.” Just the £6.7billion ($9bn) for the 2023 domestic deal, Jose.

As dominant as Mourinho’s side were, racking up a record 39 attempts on goal without scoring and registering 73 per cent possession, they clearly became frustrated and took far too many shots from outside the box. Thirty of their efforts were off target.

Below is an example, with defender Branislav Ivanovic having a pop off a bouncing ball from way outside the box.

And another optimistic, to say the least, effort from Mikel John Obi.

Chelsea substitute Frank Lampard had the best chance to win the game when he went eye-to-eye with West Ham goalkeeper Adrian in the box, forcing another save. With Eden Hazard, Willian, Oscar, and Samuel Eto’o in their starting XI, Chelsea had the quality to be more patient.

Manchester United 0 Burnley 0, October 2016, 38 shots by United

It was 10 games into the 2016-17 season, Mourinho’s first in charge of Manchester United. He had not enjoyed the best start, with 14 points from his opening nine games, and Burnley were just four points behind, with the sides in seventh and 14th.

The pressure on Burnley’s goal was constant. United accumulated an expected goals (xG) figure of 4.04, but only 11 of their 38 shots were on target.

The protagonists were United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton.

Ibrahimovic, who had turned 35 that month, came into the fixture in poor form, having not scored in his previous five league games. When the final whistle blew, he had taken 12 shots and had completed his first six-game goal drought for nine years.

Conversely, Heaton had an outstanding performance for Dyche’s team, making 11 saves. Ibrahimovic missed United’s two biggest chances, but an acrobatic scissor-kick attempt drew the best save of the game from Heaton.

“I knew I had two men behind me on the line, so I thought I’d get out, close the space and spread,” Heaton told the BBC after the match. “Thankfully, it has hit me, but it nearly broke my arm.”

After plenty of near misses, Ibrahimovic could have decided the game from a wicked Paul Pogba delivery to the back post.

It fell kindly, but Ibrahimovic’s side-foot shot did not hit the target.

Manchester United 0 Sunderland 0, April 2006, 36 shots by United

United had the attacking talent of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy, but it was still not enough to get past Sunderland’s inspired goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, who earned the player of the match award.

It was an inexcusable draw for Ferguson’s side — Sunderland were 17 points astray at the bottom of the Premier League table with five games remaining and the draw confirmed they would be relegated.

At the other end of the table, trailing Chelsea by seven points, United needed to win to stay in the title race. Dropping two points effectively ended their hopes.

Ferguson made his own conclusion. “With young players, you don’t get the consistency,” he told the BBC after the game. Rooney was 20 years old and Ronaldo was 21.

“Tonight, when we expected the most, Rooney and Ronaldo perhaps had their worst game of the season.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s biggest chance of the game was saved by Kelvin Davis (Premier League)

His young team crumbled under the pressure of the title charge, but Rooney and Ronaldo would learn from the disappointment and collect their first Premier League winners’ medals the following season.

Nottingham Forest 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0, February 2026, 35 shots by Forest

This was a hugely important game for Forest, with Wolves adrift at the bottom of the Premier League and 18th-placed West Ham gathering positive momentum.

Forest dominated proceedings in what proved to be Dyche’s final match in charge, taking 35 shots, with an xG of 2.55 and 63 per cent possession.

But maybe this was part of why it unravelled. Pressure was building on Forest, whereas Wolves are so far adrift that little is expected of them.

Also, striker Lorenzo Lucca was making his first start for Forest after joining on loan from Napoli in January. He scored on his debut as a substitute in the 3-1 loss against Leeds United, but players usually take time to adapt to the Premier League.

The most wasteful moments for Forest came in transition, situations they thrived on only last season under previous manager Nuno Espirito Santos.

This five-vs-one counter-attacking situation below came from an intercepted Wolves free kick.

But despite Forest throwing players forward, the chance did not even lead to a shot on target. Callum Hudson-Odoi squared the ball to Lucca, who rushed his approach, sliding into the ball and skying it over the bar.

Another example was a mazy run from Morgan Gibbs-White from his own half into the three-vs-three situation below, at the edge of the Wolves box.

Wolves’ No 15, Yerson Mosquera, gives Gibbs-White a decision to make when he leaves Hudson-Odoi to put pressure on the ball. Instead of progressing himself, Gibbs-White decides to pass to Hudson-Odoi, but it arrives slowly at the winger’s feet and he loses momentum, leading to a tame effort at goal.

Forest are the only side not in the traditional ‘Big Six’ on this list. They clearly had the quality to outclass Wolves, with England internationals Elliot Anderson and Gibbs-White in midfield, but were not used to dominating the ball under Dyche. With a new striker still adapting to life in England up front, it all added up to a disappointing result that had significant consequences.

Arsenal 0 West Ham United 1, April 2007, 35 shots by Arsenal

Finally, we have a situation where a blunt attack was punished with a defeat, even if it was not entirely their fault. This was the first game Arsenal lost at the Emirates Stadium, making West Ham the first team to win at their new ground and the last to win at Highbury.

In fairness to Arsenal, Bobby Zamora looked offside when he scored West Ham’s goal, which might have been ruled out with modern-day technology. But West Ham had a strong chance to double their lead at the end of the game, when Luis Boa Morte wasted a chance with only goalkeeper Jens Lehmann to beat.

Arsenal were without all-time top scorer Thierry Henry, who had been ruled out for the season the month before with groin and stomach injuries. Their biggest chance fell to Cesc Fabregas, who found himself in a one-on-one situation in the second minute. The Spain midfielder had not scored a league goal all season.

Cesc Fabregas’ excellent chance to score early in the match (Premier League)

West Ham owed a lot to a strong goalkeeping performance from England international Rob Green.

“People say they missed chances, but I tend to say Green saved them,” their manager Alan Curbishley said after the game. “When you come to a top-four team, you need your ‘keeper to put in a 10/10 performance.”

Thirty-one games into the Premier League campaign, Arsenal were in bad form and had lost their previous two games. They sat in fourth as the race for Champions League places heated up, while West Ham were fighting for safety in 19th place, four points from safety before kick-off.

Out of all the dominant teams on this list, Arsenal looked the most vulnerable defensively, despite having 64 per cent possession.

But this one is fairly easy to explain. Arsenal were without their best attacking player, Henry, and their form dropped in the games he missed. West Ham, inspired by Carlos Tevez, had won their previous two games and found a way to escape relegation, finishing 15th.

West Ham proved to be Arsenal’s bogey team that season — they were the only side to beat Wenger’s men home and away.

On a side note, James Collins featured in both of the West Ham games on this list. Perhaps he is the key to blunting Premier League attacks?