The Story of a Premiership Season

March 2001

Manchester United are held at Leeds, due to a late Mark Viduka equaliser, after Luke Chadwick’s second goal of the campaign but the leaders are grateful for a Barthez penalty save to remain unbeaten this year. Arsenal beat West Ham with a Wiltord hat-trick to close the gap. Liverpool lose third-place, to Ipswich, after going down to Leicester, and drop a place after Town beat bottom club Bradford.

Dan Petrescu’s goal takes Southampton into the top ten and keeps Manchester City in the relegation zone. Coventry claim a third successive draw, against Chelsea, but are still 19th.
Pride Park’s 100th game sees Derby claim victory over Spurs to move eight points clear of the drop zone.

Stan Collymore, at 30, retires from football. Also leaving his job, but not voluntarily, is George Graham, who is sacked after a brief and stormy meeting with Tottenham’s new executive vice-chairman David Buchler.

Under caretaker manager David Pleat Spurs beat Coventry and keep The Sky Blues 19th, just ahead of rock-bottom Bradford, who draw with Manchester City, who are still in the drop zone.
As you were at the top of the table after Manchester United beat Leicester, with goals in the last two minutes. But Arsenal lose ground, in second place, when they draw at Villa. Ipswich retain third-place with victory over West Ham and Liverpool slump two places, to sixth, when they are held by Derby, who extend their unbeaten run to five.

Tottenham confirm Glenn Hoddle as their new manager and the former White Hart Lane hero has to endure Arsenal marking Wenger’s 250th game in charge with victory in the North London derby. There’s more joy for The Gunners’ boss as Liverpool complete their first League double over Manchester United for 22 years to climb back up to fourth. Leeds move up to third after beating Sunderland, who drop to sixth.

At the bottom Bradford remain 20th after drawing with Newcastle. Coventry claim a first win in 11 games, and first of the year, over Derby, with £15,000 a game John Hartson netting his first goal for the club but The Sky Blues stay 19th Manchester City remain 18th after losing to Aston Villa.
David Rocastle, who won two championships with Arsenal, and 14 England caps, loses his fight against cancer.