The Story of a Premiership Season

February 2001

Manchester United maintain their 15 point lead at the top when a Dave Watson own goal secures victory at Everton. Arsenal are second after Dennis Bergkamp hits the winner against Coventry, who remain 19th. Liverpool go third with a Robbie Fowler brace helping defeat West Ham.
Manchester City draw at ’Boro but stay 18th and Bradford, after a fourth consecutive scoreless outing, remain rock-bottom after losing to Aston Villa, for whom Darius Vassell scores his first Premiership brace.

Middlesbrough coach Terry Venables becomes the first ‘non manager’ to win the Carling Manager of the Month award.

Andy Cole rescues a point, and United stay top, with his ninth goal of the season at Chelsea. Thierry Henry keeps Arsenal second with a goal that beats Ipswich, who drop a place to sixth. Jari Litmanen scores his first goal for Liverpool, from the spot, to earn a point against Sunderland that keeps Houllier’s side third and The Black Cats, for whom former Red Don Hutchison scores, fourth. Sergei Rebrov’s 89th minute winner against Manchester City gives Spurs their first win on the road for 10 months. It’s also the team’s first League goal in nearly eight hours of football and keeps City in the bottom three. Bradford stay bottom after losing to Southampton.
Middlesbrough extend their unbeaten run, under Terry Venables, to a dozen games, cup and League, with a point at Villa Park, due to a goal from former ‘Villain’ Ugo Ehiogu. ’Boro stay clear of the drop zone.

Coventry claim a point against West Ham courtesy of a last-minute Christian Dailly own goal, but stay 19th.

The top two meet and Arsenal are kept in their place, second, by a Manchester United thrashing in which Dwight Yorke scores his first hat-trick of the season, to extend the leaders’ advantage to 16 points.

Bradford lose their 17th game of the campaign, against West Ham, and stay rooted in 20th place. Manchester City gain a shock win at Newcastle with Shaun Goater’s first goal of the year but stay 18th and Coventry are held by Charlton and remain 19th.