Premier League Hat-Tricks in Defeats: How Rare Are They?

Brian Brobbey made Premier League history recently by scoring a hat-trick in Sunderland's 5-3 loss to Manchester City. This accomplishment puts him among just five players who have scored three goals in a match but still ended up on the losing side.

This kind of performance is exceptionally rare in the Premier League. The last time it happened was back in 2007, and since the league began in 1992, it has only occurred six times.

Previous Players with Hat-Tricks in Losing Matches

• Roque Santa Cruz: Scored three for Blackburn Rovers in a 5-3 defeat at Wigan Athletic (December 2007)
• Dwight Yorke: Scored a treble for Aston Villa in a 4-3 loss at Newcastle United (September 1996)
• Dion Dublin: Netted three goals for Coventry City during a 4-3 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday (December 1995)
• Matt le Tissier: Notably scored hat-tricks in two losing efforts. Once against Oldham Athletic in a 4-3 defeat (May 1993) and then again versus Nottingham Forest in a 4-3 home loss (August 1995)

Every Premier League Hat-Trick in a Defeat

• Matt le Tissier: Oldham Athletic 4-3 Southampton (8 May 1993)
• Matt le Tissier: Southampton 3-4 Nottingham Forest (19 August 1995)
• Dion Dublin: Sheffield Wednesday 4-3 Coventry City (4 December 1995)
• Dwight Yorke: Newcastle United 4-3 Aston Villa (30 September 1996)
• Roque Santa Cruz: Wigan Athletic 5-3 Blackburn Rovers (15 December 2007)
• Brian Brobbey: Manchester City 5-3 Sunderland (20 September 2026)

"Brian Brobbey etched his name in Premier League history by becoming the first player in 19 years to score a hat-trick on a losing side," according to BBC Sport journalist Jonty Colman.

This information came from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything series, inspired by a question from Chris in Cumbria.