The Story of a Premiership Season

February 2004

Arsenal win at Wolves and establish a new club record of 24 League games unbeaten. Thierry Henry scores his 99th Premier League goal as The Gunners move two points ahead of Manchester United, who win at Everton. Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s first goal at Goodison is the 100th of his United career and, for good measure, he also nets number 101, the 89th minute winner, to keep the Reds four points ahead of Chelsea, who beat Charlton.

At the other end of the table David O’Leary’s former club, Leeds, lose their sixth game in a row, to the Irishman’s present club, Aston Villa, and remain bottom. Leeds are three points adrift of Wolves. Leicester, beaten by Newcastle, are third from bottom, above Wolves on goal difference. The Magpies move into the top four for the first time this season, while The Foxes are now without a win in 12 games.

Things aren’t looking too good for Portsmouth who are now just three points above the drop zone after Gus Poyet’s 89th minute winner at White Hart Lane. Manchester City are also looking over their collective shoulder after a draw with Birmingham leaves them fifth bottom.

Thierry Henry scores twice as Arsenal beat Southampton, extending their unbeaten run to 25, to move five points clear of Manchester United. The Frenchman’s first goal is his 100th in the Premiership and his second takes him one ahead of Ruud Van Nistelrooy in the chase for The Golden Boot.

Leicester draw with Bolton to ‘top’ the bottom pair by one point but they’re still two points adrift of fourth bottom Portsmouth, who have played a game less. Les Ferdiand’s goal is his 10th in 14 games for Leicester but it’s cancelled out by a howler of an own goal by Foxes ’keeper Ian Walker. Leeds crush Wolves, their first win in 10, to climb above the bottom club, but only on goal difference.

Manchester United slip up at Middlesbrough and are now five points adrift in second place. ’Boro’s first two goals, by which they lead at half-time, are headers from the smallest man on the lark Juninho. Joseph Desire Job nets the 80th minute winner. Chelsea close the gap on second place to a point with victory over Portsmouth. Michael Owen scores his first goal for five injury-ravaged months as Liverpool beat Manchester City, 14 games without a League win, who are now only three points above the drop line.

Arsenal’s win at Chelsea is a massive one, in terms of the title race due to second-placed Manchester United being held by Leeds, who stay bottom. The Gunners now lead the Premiership by seven points.

At the opposite end of the table Leicester again throw away a lead. Jermaine Defoe’s 89th minute equaliser, his second goal of the game, stops 19th placed City from exiting the drop zone. Wolves give themselves hope with a victory over Fulham in which Carl Cort nets his first goal for Dave Jones’ side, his first for two years, and Wolves move within goal difference of fourth bottom Pompey.

Arsenal extend their lead at the top to nine points with victory over Charlton, in which (with shades of Leeds against Southampton, under Don Revie) from the Addicks’ kick-off Arsenal string together a 40 consecutive-pass move, lasting 95 seconds, from which Pires opens the scoring. Charlton remain fifth. Manchester United are third, on goal difference from Chelsea, who win at Manchester City, after they draw with Fulham, Louis Saha nets against his old club.
Leicester draw with Wolves but Leeds also draw, with Liverpool, and the two bottom clubs are still deep in relegation trouble.

SIDEBAR
Only Alan Shearer reached 100 Premiership goals quicker than Thierry Henry, 124 games as opposed to the Frenchman’s 160.

SIDEBAR 2
Brad Friedel scores Blackburn’s 90th minute equaliser at Charlton but seconds later the Rovers’ ’keeper is beaten by Claus Jensen’s stunning strike that earns the Addicks victory.

Story of a Premiership Season - February 2004

Story of a Premiership Season -
February 2004