The Story of a Premiership Season

March 1999

Tony Cottee nets his 199th League goal but Leicester still fall to fast-improving Leeds United, who are destined to win all their games this month. The FA announce misconduct charges for Graham La Saux and Robbie Fowler.

Wimbledon’s win at Sheffield Wednesday is too much for manager Joe Kinnear, who is rushed to hospital after complaining of severe chest pains. At the foot of the table Coventry and Southampton both claim vital wins while Arsenal extend their unbeaten run to 24 by beating Sheffield Wednesday to move second, ahead of Chelsea.

Derby inflict a second successive defeat on Aston Villa to severely damage their title hopes. Further defeats, before the month is out, drop Villa to sixth.

The total Premier League wage bill, for 1996–97, is revealed at £361 million, a rise of 25 percent on the previous season. The warning signs are posted when it’s revealed that 70 Premiership players earned £1 million when just two earned that sum the year before but many top flight clubs ignore forecasts of problems ahead.

Manchester United keep up their momentum on top of the table when an Andy Cole brace extends their unbeaten run to 17. Arsenal net a comfortable win over Everton, despite Emmanuel Petit’s red card to remain second but Chelsea’s defeat by West Ham drops them to third.

At the foot of the table Blackburn climb out of the drop zone with a win over Wimbledon. Two wins out of three sees Southampton ‘top’ the bottom three while Nottingham Forest, despite winning at eighth-placed Wimbledon, remain rock bottom.

Arsenal reduce the deficit on United to a point when Lee Dixon, on his 500th club appearance, helps them to a win over Coventry and Chelsea, effectively, remove Villa from the championship race with a couple of Tore Andre Flo goals in their win at Villa Park.

Story of a Premiership Season - March 1999

Story of a Premiership Season -
March 1999