The Story of a Premiership Season

October 1998

Although Aston Villa maintained top spot throughout the month they won just one of their three fixtures, opening with a win at Coventry with a brace of Ian Taylor goals. Subsequent draws, at West Ham and at home to Leicester, however did little to affect Villa’s status, although the gap was being closed. Derby had lost their unbeaten sequence when they lost at Villa at the end of September and October was even worse for The Rams as they lost at home to Spurs, and at Newcastle United before slumping to 10th by the end of the month after consecutive home draws with Manchester United and Leeds United.

Arsenal began the month in third place with an emphatic Highbury win over Newcastle and amassed 10 points from 12 in the month with a draw at Southampton and victories at Blackburn and Coventry. Nicholas Anelka scored in all four Premiership games. But The Gunners had to be content with third as Manchester United, ominously, mirrored their points total with three wins and a draw during the month. United opened with a win at Southampton and followed up with a thrashing of Wimbledon at Old Trafford. Only a late equaliser by Jordi Cruyyf prevented a Deon Burton goal from proving the winner at Pride Park before United got back to winning ways with a victory at Everton that saw them end the month in second spot.

Southampton remained rooted to the foot of the table despite picking up five points from nine with a 2–1 home win over Coventry sandwiched between draws at Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday. Coventry maintained their penultimate position though they did well to lose just 1–0 at Highbury. Nottingham Forest had the misfortune to run into Liverpool’s Michael Owen in full-flight and the teenage strike sensation took his tally to eight with four of the goals in a 5–1 victory at Anfield.

Story of a Premiership Season - October 1998

Story of a Premiership Season -
October 1998