The Story of a Premiership Season

April 1998

Still no clarity at the foot of the table as Spurs draw with Everton, to remain 16th while Bolton draw at Wimbledon to stay 18th and Barnsley, 19th, suffer a third consecutive defeat, to Leeds.
Manchester United come back from a goal down to win at Blackburn and restore their six point lead over Arsenal.

Bolton claim a draw at Wimbledon but stay 18th and Barnsley lose at Leeds and are one place lower.

Manchester United miss out on extending their lead over Arsenal to nine points when they are held at home by Liverpool, despite goalscorer Michael Owen being sent off leaving the visitors to play the second half with ten-men.

Arsenal press on relentlessly and record their fifth consecutive victory, with Nicholas Anelka netting twice against Newcastle, who drop to 16th, their lowest position of the campaign. Consolation, however, for The Magpies, as Warren Barton’s goal is the first conceded by The Gunners in nine matches. Arsene Wenger’s side are now just four points behind leaders Manchester United, with three games in hand, and have their championship odds cut to 1–2 on, as they replace United as title favourites.

Spurs’ defeat by Chelsea cuts their advantage, over Bolton and Barnsley, to just a point. The Tykes and Bolton, despite rare wins, over Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn, respectively, don’t move in the table and poor old Palace crash to their 11th home defeat and are eight points adrift at the bottom.

Blackburn run into Arsenal in rampant mood and are unable to stem The Gunners’ relentless march to the championship. Four-nil up by half-time, the first from the returning Dennis Bergkamp in the second minute, the title-aspirants, hampered by a snowstorm, take their collective foot off the pedal and allow Rovers a second-half consolation goal by Kevin Gallagher. United’s lead is down to a single point and Arsenal have two games in hand.

Arsenal keep up their momentum and in sweeping aside Wimbledon, helped by Nigel Winterburn playing his 500th game, they go top of the table, the first time in six months Manchester United, who slip up against Newcastle, have not lead the Premiership. The Gunners are a point clear with just two games left. Ten-man Spurs, Ramon Vega is sent off, claim a crucial point in the relegation battle at Oakwell thanks to Colin Calderwood’s equaliser cancelling out a Neil Redfearn goal that turns out to be The Tykes’ final Premiership goal. A fitting strike as it was the same player who netted the club’s first ever Premier League goal. Barnsley move up a place, to 18th, while Tottenham stay just outside the relegation zone. Bolton crash to Leeds and remain 19th and doomed Crystal Palace beat Derby to record their first home win of the campaign, and all the goals come in the last 17 minutes.

Liverpool consolidate third place with a draw at Coventry, where Michael Owen’s 16th goal of the season is cancelled out by Dion Dublin’s second half penalty.

Bolton give themselves hope with a win at Aston Villa that moves them up a place to 18th, replacing Barnsley, who lose to Arsenal, who take another giant step towards the title. The win at Oakwell puts The Gunners four points ahead of Manchester United, with a home game in hand. Liverpool suffer their worst defeat of the campaign, to Chelsea, three goals in 11 minutes doing the damage, Chelsea go third and Liverpool drop to fourth.

Away from home United show no mercy as their win condemns Crystal Palace to Division One and closes the gap on Arsenal to a point.

Arsene Wenger’s side take a four point lead over chasing United with a narrow win over Derby County, despite Dennis Bergkamp missing his first penalty for the club. One more victory will take the title to Highbury. At the other end of the table Attilio Lombardo relinquishes his post at Crystal Palace leaving chairman Ron Noades, and coach Ray Lewington, in charge of team affairs at the relegated club.

Story of a Premiership Season - April 1998

Story of a Premiership Season -
April 1998