The Story of a Premiership Season

February 2000

Seven points from January’s unbeaten run earns Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Wilson Manager of the Month while another manager, Chelsea’s Gianlucca Vialli, announces he is coming out of retirement and registers himself for European and domestic football.

The Manager of the Month ‘curse’ strikes again as Sheffield Wednesday are beaten by the leaders, Manchester United, who move three points clear of Leeds United with their first League victory at Hillsborough for seven years.

Arsenal lose ground, in third place, when they are beaten at struggling Bradford, The Gunners’ first visit there since 1922, where Dean Saunders scores the winner with only his third goal of the campaign, but The Bantams are still in the bottom three. To make matters worse, for Arsenal, Manchester United extend their lead at the top to six points with victory over Coventry and Liverpool’s win over Leeds drops David O’Leary’s side down to second and consolidates fourth place for the Anfield outfit.

Manchester United lose at Newcastle and have Roy Keane sent off but they retain top place, ahead of Leeds, who beat Spurs.

Arsenal are beaten for a second successive game, for the first time this season, when Titi Camara’s goal is enough to give Liverpool victory and the two clubs swap positions, Arsenal drop a place to fourth, behind the Anfield club.

Upton Park goes ‘goal crazy’ as The Hammers share nine goals with Bradford City, and they come back from 4–2 down and Frank Lampard’s 83rd minute winner takes West Ham ninth and leaves City in 18th place. One place lower are Sheffield Wednesday, losers at Southampton. Watford, still seeking their first victory of the year, draw with Leicester and stay bottom.

Aston Villa extend their unbeaten run to eight games but a second successive 4–0 victory, over ’Boro, is marred by yet another self-inflicted Paul Gascoigne injury as the former England star breaks his left arm in elbowing George Boateng.

A number of Leicester City players are sent home from the La Manga complex after misbehaviour in which Stan Collymore lets off a fire extinguisher, without the prerequisite of a fire!

Following a training ground fall out Alex Ferguson drops David Beckham from the top-of-the-table clash with Leeds United. ‘Becks’ has to watch from the stands as an Andy Cole strike, his 100th for the club, proves the winner and extends the gap between the two Uniteds.

United retain top place despite being held by Wimbledon and Leeds stay second with a draw at The Riverside Stadium. Arsenal’s victory over Southampton, The Gunners’ first win in four games, takes them up a place to third.

Watford continue to prop up the table after losing at Chelsea, a 13th unbeaten game for Vialli’s side. Sheffield Wednesday are a place higher when they lose to Newcastle and Bradford City complete the bottom trio despite drawing with Aston Villa.