The Story of a Premiership Season

December 2000

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson abandons plans to bring in Terry Venables and retains Bryan Robson as manager.

Derby County shock high-flying Ipswich and Rory Delap enters the record books in notching The Rams’ 200th Premiership goal, which takes them out of the relegation zone. Bradford City defeat Coventry and pull The Sky Blues into the bottom three although the win doesn’t alter The Bantams’ 20th position. ’Boro lose to West Ham and stay 19th.

Leicester spoil £18 million Rio Ferdinand’s debut with victory over Leeds that lifts them into third place but Manchester United confirm top spot with an eighth consecutive win, over Tottenham. Arsenal win for the first time in four games, to stay second, but it takes a Kachloul own goal to beat Southampton.

A ‘U’ turn at The Riverside as Terry Venables is brought in to work alongside Bryan Robson while ‘Robbo’s’ former club, Manchester United are declared the world’s richest club for the third year running.

The new ’Boro managerial pair doesn’t seem to work as the team crashes to the foot of the table following defeat by Sunderland.

Manchester United are pegged back when they squander a 2–0 advantage over Charlton and concede twice in the last 11 minutes. Arsenal take advantage by thrashing Newcastle, with the help of Ray Parlour’s first Premiership hat-trick. Ipswich retain third place with victory over Southampton, their 10th League win.

Bradford rise one place, to 19th, after a six-goal thriller with Spurs. Benito Carbone is The Bantams’ hero with an 89th minute equaliser. Derby drop back into the relegation zone after a Chelsea thrashing. Manchester City end their six-game losing streak with a shock hammering of Everton that results in Walter Smith cancelling the Merseysiders’ Christmas party and forcing his players to watch the match video.

Everton are on the receiving end of one of the most sporting incidents in Premier League history. West Ham’s Paulo Di Canio, instead of capitalising on a prostrate ’keeper Paul Gerrard and converting a cross, catches the ball to allow treatment for the Everton ’keeper, a gesture which earns the Italian universal acclaim.

Middlesbrough finally win, after 10 games, when Dean Gordon’s first goal of the season beats Chelsea to lift ’Boro one place off the bottom. Bradford slump back to 20th after defeat at Newcastle and Derby escape the drop zone, again, with victory over Coventry, thanks to a Malcolm Christie goal, which sends The Sky Blues into the bottom three.

Liverpool mark Houllier’s 100th match, and throw the title-race wide open by inflicting a first home defeat on Manchester United, for two days short of two years, with a stunning Danny Murphy free-kick.

Arsenal rescue a point against Spurs with an 89th minute Patrick Vieira equaliser that sends The Gunners into the Christmas programme in second place.

Liverpool stun second-placed Arsenal with a season’s-best Anfield win that lifts Houllier’s side to fourth and lifts Manchester United, who stretch their lead to eight points with victory over Ipswich, who drop to fifth. ‘Fergie’ declares his team as the best United have ever had.
Bradford are still bottom after losing to Chelsea, ’Boro earn a point at Spurs and remain 19th and alarm bells sound at Maine Road as Manchester City are pulled down to 17th by defeat at Sunderland.

Solskjaer’s late goal beats Aston Villa and prompts John Gregory to declare that the title race is over. Second placed Arsenal bounce back to record a season’s best score, against Leicester, who drop to fourth, with Thierry Henry netting his first hat-trick of the campaign. Sunderland leap three places, to third, when a Kevin Phillips hat-trick beats Bradford and keeps The Bantams bottom. Liverpool slump to sixth after losing at ’Boro.

United end the year still top after drawing at Newcastle. Arsenal stay second after drawing with Sunderland and Ipswich are third after beating Spurs.

Middlesbrough climb to 18th after drawing with Coventry, who exit the relegation zone. Manchester City drop to 19th after crashing to Charlton.