The Story of a Premiership Season

November 1997

Derby County climb to sixth when they end the last unbeaten record in the League with a comprehensive victory over Arsenal and Manchester United profit with a blitzing of Sheffield Wednesday that takes The Reds four points clear at the top. Blackburn are held by Barnsley, who move off the foot of the table as a consequence, Rovers stay third.

Bolton are held by Liverpool and drop to 18th while Southampton move up to the lofty height of 16th after their first away win of the campaign, at Everton.

Rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday surprise no one when they sack David Pleat. Floodlight failure causes the abandonment of the West Ham-Crystal Palace game, with the scores level at 2–2, after just over an hour.

Blackburn Rovers ease into second place, splitting Manchester United and Arsenal, with victory over Everton. Derby, 3–0 up inside 34 minutes, squander that lead and lose to Leeds, for whom Lee Bowyer hits a 90th minute winner. Sheffield Wednesday climb off the bottom in style with a thrashing of fellow-strugglers Bolton, in which Andy Booth hits a hat-trick and all the goals come in the first-half. Spurs suffer a third consecutive defeat, at Anfield, and drop towards the relegation zone. Barnsley are crushed at Southampton and remain 20th.

Arsenal are twice pegged back by Manchester United but a late David Platt winner, against his first club, takes The Gunners to within a point of the leaders. Chelsea beat West Ham, to close to within three points of United, with a game in hand, but the action isn’t confined to football and Hammers’ teammates Eyal Berkovic and Nigel Winterburn have to be separated following a frank and physical exchange of views.

Ron Atkinson succeeds David Pleat as manager of Sheffield Wednesday but he rejects a three-year contract in favour of a deal until the end of the season with speculation surrounding a massive bonus if he keeps the club in the Premiership.

John Burridge, the oldest goalkeeper to play in the Premiership, for Manchester City, announces his retirement at the age of 46.

Gerry Francis is replaced as Tottenham manager by Christian Gross.

Manchester United confirm their place at the top with victory over Wimbledon with all the goals coming in the second half but Blackburn stay within a point, and move second, after beating Chelsea, who drop to fifth. Arsenal are shocked by a rejuvenated Sheffield Wednesday, who present new boss Ron Atkinson with a first victory, in the first game of his second spell at Hillsborough, a result that drops The Gunners to third.

Bolton win for the first time in four games when an 89th minute Nathan Blake goal beats Wimbledon, but Wanderers don’t, and stay 18th. The biggest shock of the day is a debut goal for Ashley Ward that gives Barnsley victory at Anfield, but they remain 19th just above Everton, who are bottom after a third consecutive defeat, at Aston Villa, who climb to 11th.

Chelsea climb to third after a couple of late penalties clinches victory over struggling Everton, who stay bottom. Three days later Chelsea improve to second, on goal difference behind United, with a hammering of Derby County in which the Italian ‘wizard’ Gianfranco Zola hits his first hat-trick of the season. Leeds are fourth when they stage another comeback and turn over a 2–0 deficit to Barnsley with Derek Lilley hitting the winner, eight minutes from time, his only goal of the season. Christan Gross celebrates his first victory as Spurs’ manager, at bottom club Everton, but Tottenham are just outside the relegation zone. Another first for new Sheffield Wednesday boss Ron Atkinson as his team chalk up a first away win, at Southampton.

Manchester United maintain pole position by crushing Blackburn with half the goals contributed by Rovers’ defenders Stephane Henchoz and Jeff Kenna. United go three points clear of second-placed Arsenal, who lose at home to Liverpool.

Story of a Premiership Season - November 1997

Story of a Premiership Season -
November 1997