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| August 2001 Arsenal open with a crushing victory at Middlesbrough in which The Gunners score three times in the final three minutes, including two from Dennis Bergkamp. Bolton go one better with their victory over Leicester in which Kevin Nolan nets the first Premiership goal of the season, after 15 minutes, and Sunderland draw the day’s best attendance, 47,370, for their victory over Ipswich. Michael Owen’s brace gives Liverpool a winning start against West Ham. Fulham nearly pull of a shock at Old Trafford, twice taking the lead through Lousi Saha, but champions Manchester United, with their own two-goal hero, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, hit back to win. ITV’s replacement for BBC’s Match of the Day, The Premiership, is slaughtered for broadcasting just 28 minutes of football action, only 60 seconds less than talking about the games shown, with the rest of the 68 minute programme being adverts. Nine-man Spurs grind out a draw with Everton, after Gary Doherty and Gus Poyet are sent off, within three minutes of each other, just past the hour. More disciplinary problems as Leeds beat Arsenal. Referee Jeff Winter brandishes 11 yellow cards and dismisses united pair Danny Mills and Lee Bowyer. Following a mass of complaints ITV increases the football action in The Premiership programme, to 38 minutes! Sir Alex Ferguson drops Jaap Stam for the Blackburn game and says it has nothing to do with the Dutch defender’s revelations, in his recent autobiography, that he met secretly with the United manager, before his move to Old Trafford. The champions then struggle, with David Beckham scoring for both sides, to a draw. Fulham beat Sunderland and Saha scores again. The opening week of Premiership football sees a total of 63 yellow cards and nine red. Arsenal swamp Leicester to go third but Everton are the early leaders after beating Middlesbrough, who slump to 19th, still scoreless. Alan Shearer returns, after a five-month injury absence, when he comes on as a substitute in the Tyne-Tees derby. Manchester United, again minus Jaap Stam, only avoid defeat at Villa thanks to a 90th minute Alpay own goal. Stam then admits shock at the speed of his hastily conducted transfer to Lazio, for £16.5 million, just six months after signing a new five-year deal at Old Trafford. Bolton, with Michael Ricketts scoring for the third successive game, beat Liverpool, with Dean Holdsworth’s last-minute winner taking Wanderers top. Gary Doherty’s red card, against Everton, is wiped-out after referee David Elleray admits making a mistake in sending the Irishman off, in the first place. The month ends with a flurry of transfer activity. Fulham top the lot by paying Olympique Lyon £11.5 million for striker Steve Marlet. Laurent Blanc, 35, joins Manchester United for £2 million and Gerard Houllier starts his goalkeeper ‘collection’ when he spends nearly £10 million on Jerzey Dudek, from Feyenoord, and Coventry City’s Chris Kirkland. The Englishman’s fee would rise to £8 million, according to appearances. Anfield incumbent Sander Westerveld, naturally, expresses concern over his position. |
 |
The
above article is an extract from The Breedon Book of Premiership Records by Brian Beard. For details of this essential addition to the bookshelves of any football fan click HERE. |
