The Story of a Premiership Season

May 2001

Derby County end lingering relegation worries with a shock victory over champions Manchester United with Malcolm Christie netting the only goal at Old Trafford, only the second home defeat of the season for Fergie’s team.

Coventry City’s 34-year stay in the top flight ends after they let slip a 2–0 lead, by the 26th minute, with Aston Villa’s decisive last two goals coming in the final nine minutes.

Arsenal stay second after ending Leeds winning sequence, of seven games, United drop a place to fourth. Michael Owen hits his second hat-trick of the season to sink Newcastle.

Exactly one year since they clinched promotion to the Premiership Manchester City are relegated after they lose to Ipswich.

Leeds hammer Bradford with a season’s best scoreline that keeps United fourth.
Despite being held to a draw, by Newcastle, Arsenal secure runners-up in the Premiership AND a place in the Champions’ League, for the third year running.

Southampton bring the curtain down on 103 years of football at The Dell with a victory over Arsenal that is marked, fittingly, by Matt Le Tissier scoring the last goal on the ground, in the last minute of the last game. Liverpool clinch a Champions’ League place when a Robbie Fowler brace helps brush aside Charlton.