The Story of a Premiership Season

January 2002

Sunderland’s Niall Quinn decides his £1 million testimonial will be donated to children’s charities.

Leeds take over at the top by beating West Ham. Liverpool are held by Bolton and stay fourth.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy scores for the sixth League game running as United close in on leaders Arsenal with victory over Newcastle. Alan Shearer’s goal gives him a fifth consecutive scoring game.

Derby lose to Fulham and stay in the bottom three.

Alan Smith’s goal for Leeds, after 24 seconds, is the fastest of the Premiership, but comeback ‘kings’ Newcastle secure victory that takes them second and drops Leeds to fourth.
Ipswich beat Spurs to stay just above Leicester, on goal difference, after The Foxes lose to West Ham, and stay bottom and Derby are beaten by Villa to stay 19th.

Manchester United top the table, for the first time this season, and Ruud Van Nistelrooy scores for the seventh consecutive game as Southampton are beaten. Arsenal drop to fourth when they are held by Liverpool, who are one place behind.

Derby after losing for the 11th time in 17 matches, to Aston Villa, end Colin Todd’s reign after 98 days.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy nets for a record eighth consecutive Premiership game in the win over Blackburn that keeps Manchester United top. Newcastle remain second despite being held by Leicester, who stay bottom. Middlesbrough drop into the bottom three when they are held by Bolton.

Derby lose to Ipswich an remain 19th but Town climb out of the bottom three as a consequence, Marcus Bent scores for the victors for the third game running.

Leeds are held by Arsenal and the clubs stay third and fourth, respectively, but The Gunners become the first Premiership club to reach 50 yellow cards this campaign.

Liverpool’s defeat of Manchester United, with Danny Murphy hitting an 85th minute winner, throws the title race wide open.

Arsenal beat Leicester and stay fourth, The Foxes remain bottom.

John Gregory resigns at Villa, just short of his fourth anniversary as manager, citing a lack of transfer funds as the reason.

Solskjaer hits his first hat-trick of the season as Manchester United beat Bolton and maintain pole position.

Derby lose their fourth game of the month to stay in trouble, in 19th place.
Marcus Bent scores again as Ipswich beat Fulham, but skipper Matt Holland makes history by playing his 200th consecutive game for the club, since he arrived at Portman Road, from Bournemouth, in July 1997. Emile Heskey is the match-winner for Liverpool and keeps his former club, Leicester bottom of the table.

Six days after leaving Villa, the club that beat Derby to end the tenure of Colin Todd, John Gregory takes over as Derby manager.

Story of a Premiership Season - January 2002

Story of a Premiership Season -
January 2002