Race For The Premiership Title - The Previous Battles

Well, it was another sensational weekend in the Barclays Premiership, as this incredible title race took another dramatic swing.  First, Manchester United were thirty seconds away from conceding their Premiership crown and with it, becoming the most successful English club of all time, surpassing Liverpool’s 18 championships.  Then, Paul Scholes popped up unmarked in the Manchester City penalty area and changed the whole perplexion of this season.  This was a massive win for United, who have had a rotten ten days, which saw Chelsea took control of the Premiership and being dumped out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich.

Four hours later, Tottenham Hotspur’s incredible week continued, with a thoroughly deserved success over their bitter London rivals, Chelsea.  Chelsea looked lax all afternoon and had it not been for Petr Cech, Spurs could have won by a far bigger margin.  John Terry is an absolute liability at the moment.  The ex-England captain’s form must surely concern Fabio Capello and two blatant fouls, resulted in an early bath.  Are Ancelotti’s men about to throw away a championship that to be honest, they have been in command in for most of the season?

Surely, Arsenal’s limp chances are now totally over.  Arsene Wenger will now go six seasons without any silverware, a sobering statistic and he watched in horror his side throw away an easy three points on Sunday lunchtime.  2-0 up at struggling Wigan, the Gunners pressed self-destruct, and conceding three goals in the last ten minutes to end their lingering title hopes.  Diabolical goalkeeping from the inadequate Lukas Fabianski and the ageing defence were found wanting, as Wigan secured their Premiership status for another season.  This will go down as one of the most spectacular collapses in Premiership history.

It looks like it will now be between Chelsea and Manchester United for the title run-in now, both with pivotal fixtures that could change the outcome.  This Saturday, United face in-form Tottenham at Old Trafford and on May 2^nd, Chelsea have a tricky trip to Anfield, to play an out-of-form Liverpool.  It is quite probable that whoever gets the better result in these games will end up as champion. 

With the 2009/10 season turning into the closest battle in Premier League history, here’s a brief lookback at the four title battles that have gone down to the wire, most ending in Manchester United’s favour.

1994/95

This was quite probably the best ever Premiership season on record.  Kenny Dalglish’s Blackburn Rovers side entered the final day, two points clear of Manchester United, who were looking for their third successive championship.  Blackburn knew that victory at Anfield against Liverpool would guarantee them their first title in 81 years, and made a brilliant start, with Alan Shearer’s 34^th goal of the season, giving them the lead after twenty minutes.  Soon afterwards, United, needing to beat West Ham at Upton Park fell a goal behind, courtesy of Michael Hughes.  However, everything changed in the second half of both matches, as John Barnes levelled the scores at Anfield and then Brian McClair headed Manchester United back into business in East London.  Alex Ferguson now knew one more goal would win the title, but some poor finishing from the hapless Andy Cole, together with inspired goalkeeping from Ludek Mikolsko kept the Red Devils at bay.  In the dying stages on Merseyside, Jamie Redknapp swept in a free-kick to give Liverpool a 2-1 victory.  Seconds later, Blackburn fans were celebrating the championship, as news filtered through that Manchester United had been held to a 1-1 draw at Upton Park.  Blackburn ended up as champions in the most amazing way possible.

1995/96

Twelve months later, Manchester United was involved in a tense title battle again, this time against Kevin Keegan’s free-scoring Newcastle United.  Keegan’s side were twelve points clear in January, but then United hit top form, culminating in a 1-0 win at St. James Park in March.  Newcastle lost their way, their lead and then Kev blew his lid live on Sky Sports after a tight 1-0 win at Leeds in late April.  It referred to comments Ferguson had made about Leeds a fortnight earlier and Keegan totally lost the plot, a victim to the greatest man of mind games, Alex Ferguson.  After conceding a late goal to Ian Woan and Nottingham Forest the Thursday before, Newcastle needed their North East rivals Middlesbrough to do them a favour and beat Manchester United at the Riverside on the last day of the season.  This was never likely and goals from David May, Andy Cole and Ryan Giggs sealed an easy 3-0 win for Ferguson’s men, and the championship for the 3^rd time in four seasons.  Newcastle drew 1-1 at home to Tottenham, and ended the season four points shy.

1998/99

Manchester United completed the first leg of a historic treble on an epic Sunday afternoon in May 1999, but only after they were pushed all the way by defending champions Arsenal.  In a title battle that swung back-and-forth all campaign, United held a two point lead into the final games, helped by an Arsenal loss in their penultimate match at Leeds United.  Alex Ferguson’s side conceded an early goal at Old Trafford to Tottenham and Les Ferdinand.  However, strikes from David Beckham and Andy Cole were the difference, as the 2-1 win secured them a fifth championship in seven seasons.  Kanu’s clever backheel which forced Arsenal to a 1-0 final day success over Aston Villa at Highbury turned out to be irrelevant to the final outcome.

2007/08

Starting equal on points, whoever got the better result out of Manchester United or Chelsea would wrap up the Premiership title.  United survived some nervous scares, but wrapped up a 10^th title at Wigan, winning 2-0 at the JJB Stadium through goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and super sub, Ryan Giggs.  Chelsea and Avram Grant missed out, after being held to a 1-1 stalemate at home to Bolton at Stamford Bridge.