The Story of a Premiership Season

October 1999

Sunderland move up to third as in-form striker Kevin Phillips takes his goal tally to 10, to lead the Premiership scoring chart, with a brace that helps sink struggling Bradford and drop The Bantams to 18th. Sheffield Wednesday finally secure a first victory of the campaign, and end their run of six consecutive defeats, with a shock win over Wimbledon but stay bottom. A pair of Alan Shearer goals, taking his total to nine in just three games, is enough to beat Middlesbrough but Newcastle stay 19th.

Chelsea crush Manchester United, who have Nicky Butt sent off midway through the first half. Gus Poyet hits the first of his two goals with just 27 seconds on the clock. Chelsea go fourth and pull United down a peg to second as Leeds United take over at the top with a win at Watford in which Harry Kewell scores for the third game in a row.

Chelsea have Marcel Desailly and Dennis Wise, for the ninth time in his Stamford Bridge career, sent off as they drop to sixth after losing at Liverpool. Dwight Yorke nets his 10th goal of the season as Manchester United beat Watford to stay second but Leeds United retain top spot with a sixth consecutive win, with two Alan Smith goals, that keeps Sheffield Wednesday bottom. Arsenal move up to third when they thump Everton with Lee Dixon netting his first goal since 1996.
Newcastle are crushed at Coventry to remain 19th and Bradford are one place higher after losing to Wimbledon, a first win since the opening day for The Dons.

London’s top two teams meet at Stamford Bridge where a Kanu hat-trick, in the last 15 minutes, overturns a Chelsea lead to take The Gunners third and push the home side down to seventh. At White Hart Lane Spurs dent Manchester United’s title aspirations with a win that pushes them up to fifth and pulls the champions down to fourth.

Leeds are just seconds away from extending their club record winning sequence to 11 games, six in the League, by David Weir’s 90th minute equaliser at Goodison Park, but David O’Leary’s team stay top. Sunderland are denied the chance of heading the table when a Trevor Sinclair equaliser, in the 89th minute, prevents Kevin Phillips’ 13th goal of the season beating West Ham. Having Steve Bould sent off, after 19 minutes, didn’t help The Black Cats’ cause.

Newcastle move out of the relegation zone, for the first time, by beating Derby County.

Titi Camara scores the winner for Liverpool, against West Ham, just a few hours after learning of the death of his father and declining the club’s offer of compassionate leave.

Leeds maintain leadership of the Premiership with victory over West Ham Arsenal slump to fourth after they are held by Newcastle, who claim their first away point of the season and move up to 17th. Manchester United beat Aston Villa to go second.

Sunderland confirm third place with a Niall Quinn brace beating Tottenham while struggling Sheffield Wednesday lose their fifth away game in a row, at Leicester, who move up to fifth, to stay rooted to the bottom.

Story of a Premiership Season - October 1999

Story of a Premiership Season -
October 1999