The Story of a Premiership Season

September 1997

Bolton open their new ‘space-age’ Reebok Stadium with a 0–0 draw against Everton. A goal from Nathan Blake, ‘confirmed’ by television replay is not given.

Liverpool’s teenage striking sensation, Michael Owen, is sent off in an England Under-18 international against Yugoslavia.

13 September is a lucky date for Ian Wright as he finally beats Cliff Bastin’s Arsenal record of 178 goals. Wright’s hat-trick, against Bolton, takes his tally to 180 but it’s Manchester United who top the table after they beat West Ham but John Hartson’s goal, for The Hammers, is the first conceded by United, and the first past Peter Schmeichel in more than 11 and a half hours, since April. Derby win at Everton to go 11th and dump the Goodison outfit down to 18th.

Aston Villa jump six places, and out of the relegation zone, by winning at Barnsley, and Wimbledon also exit the basement group with a shock victory at Newcastle. But Southampton stay bottom after losing at Coventry.

Manchester United beat West Ham to go top and a fourth successive victory, over Crystal Palace, sees Chelsea go second, where Blackburn replace them, the very next day, despite losing their first game of the season, a seven-goal thriller at home to Leeds. All the goals come in a breathtaking 34 first-half minutes and Rovers are three points behind the leaders.

Barnsley lose to Everton, a result that plummets The Tykes down to 17th but rockets the Goodison outfit up to 13th. Wimbledon slip into the relegation zone when Atillio Lombardo nets the only goal for the ‘landlords’ against the ‘lodgers’, the Italian’s third goal in his seventh game. Southampton are still bottom despite holding Liverpool. Manchester United are held by Bolton and Gary Pallister and Nathan Blake are sent off. Blackburn are three points behind leaders Manchester United after drawing with Spurs and Leicester achieve parity with Rovers after beating Leeds with a Steve Walsh goal, his second in successive matches, that takes him ahead of fellow defender Matt Elliot as The Foxes leading scorer.

Arsenal go to second, two points behind Manchester United, when a rare Nigel Winterburn goal, in the last-minute, earns victory over Chelsea.

The Gunners top of the table, for the first time this campaign, on goal difference, with a crushing victory over West Ham because Manchester United are held by Chelsea. Newcastle are creeping up on the rails as their victory over Everton takes them up to seventh and although The Magpies are six points adrift they do have three games in hand.

Derby achieve their best top flight result with a comprehensive victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
Wimbledon improve their position in the basement group with a crushing defeat of fellow strugglers Barnsley but Southampton remain bottom, after losing to Leeds.

Leeds win for the second time in four days when David Wetherall’s first goal of the season inflicts a first defeat on Manchester United, who are overtaken by Arsenal, who move a point clear after drawing at Everton, despite The Gunners squandering a 2–0 lead. United’s defeat at Elland Road is even more costly as Roy Keane leaves the ground on crutches, following a rash challenge. Leicester win at Barnsley and move third, just behind Manchester United, on goal difference.

Sheffield Wednesday ‘top’ the bottom three by drawing at Aston Villa. Southampton are still bottom after they are thrashed by Derby County, who take their goal tally, inside four days, to nine. Barnsley are one place higher than The Saints after they suffer a fifth consecutive League defeat, to Leicester.

Blackburn miss the chance of going second when they fail to score, for only the second time this campaign, and drop to fifth as a consequence of drawing with Coventry.

Roy Keane’s injury turns out to be a ruptured cruciate ligament, which means he is out for the rest of the season.

Story of a Premiership Season - September 1997

Story of a Premiership Season -
September 1997