The Story of a Premiership Season

November 1999

Gary Willard becomes the first referee to be dropped by the Premier League, for failing a fitness test.

Manchester United go top of the table with an Andy Cole brace that beats Leicester. A record Riverside crowd of 34,793 sees a bad-tempered derby with Sunderland in which there are 11 booking and the dismissal of Black Cats’ Chris Makin, but the visitors stay third.

Sheffield Wednesday start a third consecutive month on the bottom as they draw with Watford, who stay 19th. Derby slump into the bottom three, 18th, with defeat at Anfield, where they haven’t kept a clean sheet for 29 years. Liverpool move up to fifth.

Leeds are knocked off the top when they lose for the first time since the end of August, at Wimbledon, who keep a clean sheet for the first time in 29 matches. Arsenal miss the chance of gaining ground when they lose a bad-tempered North London derby to Spurs. The Gunners have six booked and Martin Keown and Freddie Ljunberg sent off.

Newcastle continue their climb up the table when Alan Shearer’s 13th goal in 11 matches, a penalty, earns a draw with Everton that takes The Magpies up to 16th, their highest placing of the campaign.

Manchester United receive a ‘cash boost’ from Highbury when Croatian striker Davor Suker, a player of the Stock Market, reveals he has made a £20,000 investment in the Old Trafford club. Arsenal could perhaps have done with the money as they announce plans to move to a new ‘purpose-built’ stadium, at Ashburton Grove.

Leeds get back to winning ways with victory over Bradford that keeps them second, behind Manchester United, who beat Derby, to keep The Rams 18th, and hold on to top place. Bradford stay just outside the drop zone. Arsenal hit their highest score of the season to crush Middlesbrough, and move up to third, helped by a Marc Overmars hat-trick. Dennis Bergkamp’s brace puts him on the scoresheet for the first time since the second game of the campaign.

Sheffield Wednesday twice lead against West Ham but lose to remain bottom of the Premiership and have Danny Sonner red carded.

The day after Roma coach Fabio Capello brands Alan Shearer as a ‘diver’ Michael Owen is cautioned for ‘diving’ in Liverpool defeat at West Ham that lifts The Hammers into ninth place and drops Liverpool one place to sixth. Sunderland move up to third as a couple of goals from ex-Hornets striker Kevin Phillips earns Sunderland victory at Watford and keeps the home side 19th.

Michael Bridges nets his 10th goal of the season to beat Southampton and take Leeds back to the top of the table and a Thierry Henry brace that beats Derby County, keeps The Gunners third and The Rams 18th. Bradford’s defeat at Stamford Bridge, which keeps them 17th, is a first win in seven for Chelsea, who move up a place to eighth.

Story of a Premiership Season - November 1999

Story of a Premiership Season -
November 1999