The Story of a Premiership Season

February 1998

Blackburn’s Chris Sutton reaction to being omitted from the senior England squad is to withdraw from the ‘B’ team despite attempts to dissuade him by his managers, at club and country.
Newcastle sign Gary Speed, from Everton, for £5.5 million.

Manchester United are held by 19th placed Bolton but their lead at the head of the table actually increases, due to shock home defeats for Blackburn and Liverpool. Rovers crash to struggling Spurs, who move up a place to 17th, with two of the visitors’ goal coming in the last two minutes of the game. Liverpool, despite two Michael Owen goals, are beaten by The Saints, who also net twice in the final minutes.

Chelsea lose to Arsenal but stay second and Arsenal close to within six points of United, with a game in hand. In another all-London clash Crystal Palace lose to Wimbledon and drop into the bottom three.

Michael Owen becomes the youngest international of the 20th century when he makes his debut against Chile but England lose 2–0. Gianlucca Vialli is the shock replacement as Chelsea replace Ruud Gullit.

Michael Owen returns from England duty to continue his purple-patch of scoring with a hat-trick that allows Liverpool to come back from 3–1 down at Sheffield Wednesday to take a point and move second, four points adrift of Manchester United. Spurs are held be Leicester and stay 17th.
Manchester United increase their advantage when they win at Villa, with David Beckham and Ryan Giggs netting in the last eight minutes.

Arsenal, with more than a dozen first-teamers missing, are too strong for Crystal Palace and a win takes The Gunners second and leaves Palace, after a fifth consecutive defeat, 19th. Barnsley lose to Coventry and prop up the table while Bolton manage a draw with West Ham that keeps Wanderers 18th and Spurs don’t move, either, as they lose to Sheffield Wednesday to remain 17th. Chelsea lose for the second game running, to Leicester, for the first time this campaign, and drop to fourth. But there’s no stopping Manchester United who beat Derby County to take a massive nine point lead at the top.

Liverpool join Arsenal, in second place, with a draw against Everton that leaves them still without a ‘derby’ win since 1994.

Phil Neville’s first senior goal for Manchester United, and it will prove to be his only goal of the season, is enough to beat Chelsea and not only increase the leaders’ advantage at the top to 11 points but effectively remove the Stamford Bridge club from the title race. Blackburn go second when a Chris Sutton’s second hat-trick of the campaign helps Rovers beat Leicester.
Liverpool drop to fourth when they are beaten by a brace from former striker Stan Collymore at Villa Park.

Barnsley climb to their highest position since September, 18th, by beating Wimbledon and striker Jan-Aage Fjortoft makes history by becoming the first Barnsley player to hit two goals in one Premiership game. Crystal Palace are dumped to the foot of the Premiership after losing their sixth consecutive game, against Coventry.

Story of a Premiership Season - February 1998

Story of a Premiership Season -
February 1998