The Story of a Premiership Season

April 2004

Alan Smith hits the 86th minute winner as Leeds beat Leicester to climb within goal difference of the 18th placed Foxes. But victory is tainted by two yellow cards for Mark Viduka, that put him out of Leeds’ next ‘six-pointer’, against Portsmouth.

Arsenal twice come from behind to beat Liverpool and extend their record unbeaten run to 31. Thierry Henry’s hat-trick takes his League total to 25 (33 in all competitions) and extends The Gunners’ lead over Chelsea to seven points. Claudio Ranieri promptly concedes the title, an assessment that is reinforced the next day when Middlesbrough hold Chelsea to leave Roman’s ‘army’ six points adrift in second place. Manchester United come from a goal down, at half-time, to beat Birmingham to move within six points of Chelsea.

Wolves stay bottom after drawing with Manchester City, after conceding a last-minute equaliser, to Shaun Wright Phillips, that prevents a first away win for the Molineux outfit.

Leicester are second bottom after Collins John hits his first goals for Fulham. Leeds win a second game running, at Blackburn, and are only in the bottom three on goal difference, from Portsmouth, Rovers are 16th. Steve Caldwell’s opener for Eddie Gray’s side is his first for the club.

Newcastle become the first side, for 18 games, to stop Arsenal scoring, as the teams draw. The Gunners are seven points clear of the field while Newcastle move to fifth, just behind Liverpool on goal difference.

Blackburn win a thrilling encounter against Fulham. The first time in a year that Rovers have come from behind to win but they are still 16th, above Portsmouth on goal difference. John Stead’s winner is his fourth goal in eight starts.

Gary Neville’s first League goal for three years, and only his fifth in 428 games, is enough for Manchester United to beat Leicester and close, with a game in hand, to within three points of Chelsea. Ranieri’s side seem to have blown their championship hopes, losing to Villa, and trail Arsenal by seven points, having played one game more.

Leicester are 19th, six points adrift of 16th placed Portsmouth, and safety. Leeds draw with Charlton and are top of the basement trio, two points from Pompey but have played one game more than Harry Redknapp’s team.

Arsenal crush Leeds in a record-breaking game that keeps United bottom, leaving The Gunners needing just four points to clinch the Premiership title. Pires hits his 18th goal of the season then Henry goes on a four-goal spree to send Arsenal 10 points clear of Chelsea, who then fall nine points behind by drawing with Everton. Manchester United lose to Portsmouth, for the first time since 1955 at Fratton Park and stay third. Pompey move up to 16th, three points above Manchester City, who lose to Southampton.

Wolves stay 20th despite beating ’Boro but just behind Leicester, on goal difference, who lose at Blackburn, a result that leaves Rovers 15th.

Gary Neville scores in United’s win over Charlton that gives him a scoring record of two in three games, six in 430 for the club, a victory that moves Fergie’s side to within a point of second place, but 10 behind the leaders.

Danny Murphy hits the penalty winner as Liverpool beat United. It’s the third time Danny has hit the clincher at Old Trafford. The irony of Gary Neville, self-confessed ‘scouse-hater’, conceding the spot-kick isn’t lost on the visitors’ supporters.

John Stead hits his fifth goal in 10 games to clinch Blackburn’s third consecutive victory, over Everton, to take Rovers 13th, eight points clear of the last relegation place. Leicester are held by Manchester City, who stay above them, outside the drop zone, three points clear of 18th placed Leeds. The Foxes, for whom Paul Dickov’s penalty is saved, are three points and one place further behind the Yorkshire club. The mass brawl at The Walkers Stadium, involving all 22 players, following the award of the spot-kick, is to be investigated by the FA.

Arsenal clinch their third Premier League championship, in three years, and extend their unbeaten run to 34, although they throw away a two-goal lead at White Hart Lane. Two hours earlier Newcastle beat Chelsea leaving The Gunners needing just a point against Spurs. The Magpies’ winner is a Shearer stunner, from 30 yards, his 173rd Newcastle goal. Ranieri’s side, five games without a win, are now just a point ahead of Manchester United.

Wolves are all but down after they stay bottom following the draw with Birmingham in which Mikael Forsell nets his 19th goal of the season. Leeds look set to join Wolves in the drop after losing to Portsmouth leaves them three points from safety.

SIDEBAR
Thierry Henry’s goal fest against Leeds made him the first Arsenal player to score four goals in a Premiership game. His fifth ‘hat-trick’ for the club was completed by a ‘cheeky chip’ penalty. His fourth was his 150th Gunners goal, in his 251st appearance, whilst also being his 29th Premier League goal of the campaign and his 38th in all competitions. His haul against Leeds took his total, in four Friday games for Arsenal, to eight.

Story of a Premiership Season - April 2004

Story of a Premiership Season -
April 2004