The Story of a Premiership Season

November 2000

Manchester United beat Coventry to stay top. Arsenal remain second with a Thierry Henry winner at Middlesbrough. Leicester move up to third after Robbie Savage’s first goal of the season, beats Manchester City and Liverpool fall to fourth after being blitzed by a four-goal blast from Mark Viduka, for Leeds.

Roy Keane bemoans the vocal support at Old Trafford labelling corporate supporters as the ‘prawn sandwich’ brigade.

A 90th minute rocket, from Paul Merson, earns Aston Villa victory over Everton and fifth place.
A fifth successive victory, over Middlesbrough, confirms Manchester United in top spot but Arsenal lose ground when they are held by battling Derby County, who are now 19th. Leicester drop a place, to fourth, after they draw with Newcastle.

Liverpool climb to third with a comprehensive victory over Coventry, for whom David Thompson scores a sentimental consolation goal, on his return to his former club.

Sir Alex Ferguson misses a David Beckham free-kick winner in the Manchester derby, to attend his son’s wedding in South Africa, that keeps United top. Everton, with former Gunner Kevin Campbell on the scoresheet, inflict only the second defeat of the season on Arsenal, who stay second. Leicester climb a place to third by beating Middlesbrough, a sixth consecutive defeat for Bryan Robson’s team that keeps them 18th.

Derby, with goals from Malcolm Christie and Rory Delap, beat Bradford in the basement battle but the clubs remain 20th and 19th, respectively.

Ipswich climb to fifth with victory at Coventry, with a Fabian Wilnis 90th minute winner.
Chelsea’s out-of-favour Tore Andre Flo, two days after submitting a transfer request, completes a record £12 million switch to Glasgow Rangers.

Ipswich continue their impressive climb up the Premiership table when a Marcus Stewart brace, his second proves the winner, at Manchester City helps take the club third, Town’s highest top flight position for nearly 20 years.

In a throw back to the 1960s and 70s Arsenal lose a pulsating match with Leeds, in which seven are booked, and fail to score for a third consecutive game but stay second. Liverpool drop a place, to fifth, when they lose to Newcastle, who move up a slot to seventh. Leicester also slip a place, to fourth, when they lose at Spurs. But Manchester United’s seventh consecutive victory, at Derby, keeps them in pole position and The Rams 19th.

Bradford claim their first point in four games but they squander a 2–0 lead, gained in the first 10 minutes, against Middlesbrough. For ’Boro their first point in two months comes courtesy of an 89th minute Paul Ince goal. City and ’Boro remain 20th and 18th, respectively.