The Story of a Premiership Season

November 2003

Arsenal crush Leeds to top the Premiership by a point from Chelsea, who win at Everton, now goalless for six and a half hours of Premiership football. Manchester United are third after beating Portsmouth, with Cristiano Ronaldo netting his first goal for the club with a stunning free-kick.

Leicester beat Blackburn and move a place ahead of 19th placed Rovers. Leeds are still bottom of the table, on goal difference, from Graeme Souness’s side, who have won just one League game in 13. Wolves are just one point above the bottom three after losing to Middlesbrough.
Birmingham City are pegged back in fourth place after losing to Charlton, the first team to win at St Andrews for nine months. Matt Holland’s ‘brace’, are the first goals conceded by Blues in nearly 600 minutes.

Arsenal go four points clear at the top in winning the North London derby. Charlton are fourth after beating Fulham. Leeds are swept aside at Portsmouth and stay rock-bottom. Wolves are just above the bottom three after drawing with Birmingham.

Leicester move out of the bottom three with a win at Manchester City. Manchester United have to settle for third place, after beating Liverpool, who haven’t kept a clean sheet since 30 August, because of Chelsea’s crushing victory over Newcastle, which closes the gap on leaders Arsenal to one point.

Blackburn beat Everton to exit the relegation zone.
Peter Reid is sacked, by Leeds, for the second time in 12 months. Eddie Gray takes over as caretaker manager, despite not having the necessary coaching qualifications to manage in the Premiership, and promptly reinstates Mark Viduka, dropped by Reid and threatened with a £130,000 fine following a training-ground ‘bust-up’. Reid’s compensation package, reportedly worth £850,000, takes Leeds United’s ‘managerial’ bill for their last three managers to more than £7 million.

Arsenal’s comprehensive victory over Birmingham, in Arsene Wenger’s 400th game, with a Dennis Bergkamp goal marking his first match as skipper, keeps them a point ahead of second-placed Chelsea, who register their seventh straight League win, at Southampton. Manchester United, in their best start for 10 years, are a point further behind following their win over Blackburn. Kleberson scores his first goal in English football, Van Nistelrooy’s goal is his 12th of the campaign.

Leeds lose at home to Bolton and remain 20th. Wolves are 19th after losing to Everton and because Blackburn scored in their defeat at Old Trafford Aston Villa, Sunday losers at Tottenham, who hit back with two goals in the last 12 minutes, are in the bottom three.

Alan Shearer’s brace against Manchester City takes his tally, under Sir Bobby Robson’s four-year tenure, to 100 goals.

Chelsea go top of the Premiership, with a Frank Lampard penalty beating Manchester United, one point ahead of Arsenal, who are held by Fulham, who move above Charlton to fourth. United drop to third, four points off the top.

Leeds win at Charlton but stay bottom, on goal difference, from Wolves who are held by Newcastle. Everton slump into the bottom three after losing at Bolton.

Story of a Premiership Season - November 2003

Story of a Premiership Season -
November 2003