The Story of a Premiership Season

March 2000

Ed de Goey sets a new record of 22 when he keeps another clean sheet as Chelsea draw at Newcastle and move up to third. Leeds brush aside Coventry and remain second while Manchester United are held by Liverpool but stay top and set another Premiership best attendance, of 61, 592.
Bradford stay ‘top’ of the bottom three by drawing at Spurs and Derby improve their survival chances with a season’s best score against Wimbledon that keeps them above the ‘drop zone’ and pulls The Dons down to 16th, one place above The Rams. Sheffield Wednesday are still 19th after drawing with Everton and Watford remain rock bottom after losing to West Ham.

Sunderland’s descent continues as they are rocked by a Stan Collymore hat-trick, a season’s first for The Foxes, and fall to seventh.

Leeds close the gap on Manchester United to four points, by beating Coventry while Arsenal drop to fourth after a late Lee Dixon goal rescues a point against Aston Villa.

John Hartson’s £6 million move from Wimbledon to Tottenham collapses when a medical reveals doubts over an old knee injury.

Stuart Pearce breaks his left leg for the second time in six months as West Ham beat Southampton.
Manchester United’s value breaks the £I billion barrier.

Emile Heskey becomes the third most expensive player to move between Premiership clubs when he leaves Leicester to join Liverpool for £11 million.

Dwight Yorke’s first hat-trick of the campaign helps Manchester United beat Derby to retain top spot. Chelsea are held by Everton but remain third while Liverpool draw at home to Sunderland, for whom Kevin Phillips nets his 25th goal of the season, a penalty, but The Black Cats’ fall down the table continues and they are now 9th. Watford lose, for the 21st time in 28 League outings, to Newcastle and stay bottom. Sheffield Wednesday, despite winning for the first time in six games, against West Ham don’t improve from 19th

Leeds retain second place with victory over Bradford City, thanks to a brace of goals from Michael Bridges that takes his tally to 15, that leaves The Bantams 18th. Goalkeeping coach Neville Southall, 41, is pressed into action for Bradford after their usual ’keeper Matt Clarke is injured, falling down the stairs at home.

Arsenal drop to fifth after they are beaten by Middlesbrough.

Liverpool are unable to breakdown Aston Villa and a third consecutive draw dents Anfield aspirations of achieving a Champions’ League place and Michael Owen is substituted after missing a penalty. Everton lose to a late Gary McAllister goal, which is Coventry’s first for more than 500 minutes.

It’s business as usual for both Liverpool and Michael Owen as the Reds beat Derby County and disappoint the 350 ‘die-hard’ members of the Branko Strupar fan club, who trek over to Anfield from Belgium. Goals from Owen, his first in nine games, and Titi Camara, move the team up to third and keep The Rams just above the drop zone. Things are looking bleaker for Bradford after they crash to Coventry, especially as Watford close the gap with an 89th minute Alan Smart winner wins the battle of the bottom two, and keeps Sheffield Wednesday 19th.

Leeds crush Wimbledon and stay second and Arsenal move up to third by beating Spurs.

Wednesday boss Danny Wilson, the club’s fourth manager in five years, pays the price for just five Premiership wins and is sacked.

Manchester United increase their lead at the top with a comprehensive win at Bradford that keeps The Bantams in the bottom three, 18th. Liverpool confirm third place with victory over Newcastle, thanks to an 88th minute winner from substitute Jamie Redknapp.

Leeds’ defeat at Leicester prompts David O’Leary to concede that Manchester United will win the championship.

Steve Ogrizovic, aged 42, deputies for Magnus Hedman in Coventry’s defeat at Highbury that confirms The Gunners’ fourth place.