The Story of a Premiership Season

March 2003

Juninho marks the start of his third ’Boro spell with a goal that earns a point against Everton. His previous game for ’Boro was on 14 May 2000, at Everton, when he also scored. Sunderland lose again, to Fulham, and stay bottom. West Brom are beaten by Southampton and are 19th. West Ham beat Spurs but stay in the bottom three.

Pires and Jeffers score as Arsenal beat Charlton to stay in pole position. Birmingham win the first Second city top flight derby for 16 years but Villa’s Dion Dublin is sent off, for ‘head-butting’ Robbie Savage, as well as Joey Gudjonsson. Manchester United defeat Leeds to stay second. Middlesbrough beat Newcastle in front of the biggest Riverside crowd in the stadium’s eight-year history, a sell out 34,814, but The Magpies stay third.

Sunderland finally lose patience with Howard Wilkinson and Steve Cotterill and sack the management pair after just two wins in the 20 they have been in charge. Two days later Mick McCarthy is installed as manager at The Stadium of Light.

Arsenal lose for the first time in 15 games, against Blackburn, but retain pole position. Manchester United beat Villa, with David Beckham’s first goal in eight games, and close the gap on The Gunners. Newcastle are still third after beating Charlton.

Mick McCarthy’s presence fails to ignite Sunderland, who lose to Bolton and stay bottom. West Ham draw with Everton and are one place higher.

West Brom stay 19th after losing to Chelsea, who move up to fourth.

A significant moment in the title race as Manchester United hit the top, for the first time this campaign, with a Ruud Van Nistelrooy hat-trick beating Fulham, before another Premiership record attendance of 67,706. Newcastle cruise to victory against Blackburn, with three of The Magpies’ goals coming in the final five minutes and, for once, Alan Shearer doesn’t score against his former club.

West Brom’s defeat by Birmingham keeps The Baggies 19th but West Ham move out of the relegation zone, for the first time since November, with victory over Sunderland, who stay bottom.
James Beattie becomes the first striker to reach 20 Premiership goals this season with a goal in Southampton’s draw with Aston Villa.

Arsenal regain pole position with victory over Everton. Pascal Cygan scores his first goal of the season.

Struggling Bolton snatch a shock victory over Spurs with a 90th minute penalty winner from Jay Jay Okocha.

Leeds United’s ‘under-fire' chairman Peter Ridsdale, who sanctioned David O’Leary’s £100 million spending spree, finally bows to fans’ pressure and resigns, leaving Leeds nearly £80 million in debt.

Story of a Premiership Season - March 2003

Story of a Premiership Season -
March 2003