The Story of a Premiership Season

January 2000

Interesting post-scriptum to Dennis Wise replacing Didier Deschamps in the win over Sheffield Wednesday as the Frenchman declares that Serie ‘A’ football is superior to the Premier League.
Leeds lose a second consecutive game, for the first time in the campaign, but stay top despite defeat at home to Aston Villa, for whom Gareth Southgate is a rare scorer, netting twice.

Branko Strupar scores twice for Derby County as they beat Watford to move out of the bottom three and keep The Hornets 19th. Bottom club Sheffield Wednesday claim a point against Arsenal and the clubs stay 20th and third, respectively.

Chelsea are held at Bradford City where a Lee Mills goal, in the first minute, looks like giving The Bantams a fifth home win of the season but Dan Petrescu spoils that with a second half equaliser that keeps City 18th.

George Weah joins Chelsea on a six-month loan, from AC Milan, and makes a dream start scoring the winner against Spurs, three minutes from time, after his registration only comes through a few hours before kick-off.

As if Danny Wilson doesn’t have enough problems with his Sheffield Wednesday team propping up the Premiership four Sheffield MPs call for him to be sacked!

Arsenal move second, level on points with Manchester United, when they thrash Sunderland with two goals apiece for Thierry Henry and Davor Sukar and drop The Black Cats a place to fifth. Liverpool move up to fourth as Vladimir Smicer nets his first goal for the club in the victory at Watford that keeps The Hornets 19th.

Sheffield Wednesday win the basement battle against Bradford City but The Owls stay bottom, The Bantams are still two places higher. Watford are still sandwiched between the two Yorkshire clubs.

The League Managers Association calls on the government to censure the four Sheffield MPs, David Blunkett, Joe Ashton, Clive Betts and Bill Michie, who are campaigning for the removal of Wednesday manager Danny Wilson.

There’s controversy amongst Manchester United fans after the club’s web-site announces Eric Cantona has pipped George Best as United’s player of the 20th century.

Sheffield Wednesday climb off the bottom of the Premiership, for the first time this campaign, by winning their first away game of the season, at Spurs. Niklas Alexandersson is the goalscorer, for the second game running, as The Owls secure successive victories for the first time in the current season. Bradford win for the first time in six games against fellow-strugglers Watford and although The Bantams stay 18th defeat plunges The Hornets to the bottom of the Premiership, with 50 goals conceded.

Leeds stay top by beating Sunderland, who remain fifth. Liverpool only manage a draw with Middlesbrough but stay fourth.

The much-awaited clash between Arsenal and Manchester United ends ‘all-square’ at Old Trafford. The Gunners lead until the 73rd minute, through Freddie Ljunberg, but substitute Teddy Sheringham earns a point.

A record Premiership attendance of 61,267, at Old Trafford, sees Manchester United beat Middlesbrough, with David Beckham’s first goal of the season, to go top, but the home side disgrace themselves by ‘hounding’ referee Andy D’Urso, for awarding ’Boro a penalty. It’s the first time in six years a visiting side has been awarded a spot-kick there.