Premiership magic moments

WITH the 20th Premiership season due to start at the weekend, I will share now some of my golden moments from the best league in the world.

Better late than never from Bruce - April 1993

Manchester United were fighting Aston Villa for the first Premiership title in 1992/93, when they met Sheffield Wednesday on a sunny Easter Saturday at Old Trafford.  After a referee injury, linesman John Hildridge took charge and awarded the visitors a penalty for a clumsy challenge by Paul Ince on Chris Waddle.  Lifelong Manchester United fan John Sheridan converted the spotkick.  With stoppage time approaching, Bruce went forward and headed in an equaliser.  Then with seven minutes of injury time having been played, Bruce reacted quickest to a poor Nigel Worthington header and the ball sailed past Chris Woods despairing dive.  Alex Ferguson and Brian Kidd jumped onto the pitch in delight and relief and the game was won, 2-1.  Manchester United went onto win their first championship since 1966 by ten points.

Robbie too fast for Gunners - August 1994

Liverpool's first home match of the 1994/95 season saw a remarkable feat by young hotshot Robbie Fowler. Against the famous Arsenal back four of Dixon, Keown, Adams and Winterburn; the Toxeth lad scored the fastest hat-trick in Premiership history; 4minutes 33seconds.  It was red hot stuff at a crazy Anfield and a Premiership record unlikely to be broken.

Blackburn end the 81 year drought - May 1995

It was a sensational finish to the third Premiership season.  Blackburn Rovers, under the millions of Jack Walker, held a two point lead over defending champions Manchester United.  At Anfield, they were beaten by a stoppage time Jamie Redknapp free-kick.  Seconds later, news filtered through that United had only managed a 1-1 draw at Upton Park against West Ham, so the Premiership title went back to Ewood Park in amazing circumstances.

Collymore closes in - April 1996

There can be no doubt what is the greatest match of the 20 year history; it was at Anfield on Wednesday 3 April 1996.  Liverpool took on Newcastle United, with both sides still chasing the title.  Robbie Fowler gave Roy Evans side a dream start, heading the home side infront inside two minutes.  Newcastle responded clinically through Les Ferdinand and David Ginola in a game that went end-to-end.  With the scoreline tied at 3-3 in the 90th minute, John Barnes found Stan Collymore, who squeezed a shot inside Pavel Srnicek's near post to seal a 4-3 win for Liverpool.  It was unbelievable stuff and a brilliant spectacle of a football match.

Keegan loses it live on Sky - April 1996

Kevin Keegan fell victim to the master of the mind games, Alex Ferguson.  Ferguson made some comments about the performance of Leeds United in a match at Old Trafford, regarding to cheating their manager, Howard Wilkinson.  He also criticised the re-arranging of a match between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, so close to a testimonial for Stuart Pearce, suggesting Forest would take it easy.  Keegan was furious and expressed his live on Sky Sports.  'I will love it if we beat them, love it!'

Beckham's brilliance - August 1996

He was already an emerging talent, but David Beckham's rise to stardom was complete on the opening weekend of the 1996/97 season.  Manchester United were already cruising, 2-0 up at Selhurst Park against Wimbledon when the young England sensation spotted Neil Sullivan off his line and lobbed him from the halfway line.  It was one of the greatest goals seen in Premier League history and a goal that is still seen over and over again today.

Newcastle's revenge - October 1996

Having thrown away a 12 point lead the previous season, Newcastle United responded in explosive fashion, ripping Manchester United apart in October 1996.  Goals from Darren Peacock, David Ginola, Les Ferdinand, Alan Shearer and a delicious lob from Phillipe Albert gave Newcastle a historic and stunning 5-0 win over the champions; a reminder of what great football the Toon Army produced in the Keegan days.

Adams wraps it up - May 1998

In February 1998, some bookmakers began paying up on another title success for Manchester United, but Arsenal chased them down and overtook them, with the pivotal clash being a 1-0 win for the Gunners at Old Trafford in March.  On May 3, Arsene Wenger's side wrapped up their first Premiership title with a 4-0 thumping of Everton at Highbury, crowned by this moment from captain Tony Adams.

Everton's great escape - May 1998

For the second time in five years, Everton went into the final day in the relegation zone.  A nervous Goodison Park witnessed a 1-1 draw with Coventry City.  Bolton Wanderers lost 2-0 at Chelsea, which meant they went down with Barnsley and Crystal Palace and the Toffees stayed up by the skin of their teeth.

Di Canio's goal - March 2000

For me, it is the greatest ever Premiership goal.  Witness a moment of art from West Ham's Paulo Di Canio against Wimbledon.  No more words are needed.

Bradford beat the drop - May 2000

Bradford City defeated the odds on the final day of the 1999/2000 season to keep themselves afloat in the Premiership.  David Weatherall's header was good enough to beat Liverpool and with Wimbledon losing 2-0 at Southampton, it was the Dons who were relegated, promoting unbridled joy at Valley Parade.

Fair play from Paulo - December 2000

There have been times when Di Canio hasn't shown the best side of himself in the Premiership, but this was in the real spirit of fair play.  With the match tied at 1-1 between Everton and West Ham, Paul Gerrard was injured and the Hammers had the chance to win the game.  However, with an unguarded goal, Di Canio sportingly picked the ball up and stopped play.  He was rightly applauded for his actions.

Tottenham 3-5 Manchester United - September 2001

Manchester United produced one of the greatest comebacks in Premiership history at White Hart Lane in September 2001.  They had a nightmare first half, conceding three goals to Dean Richards, Les Ferdinand and Christian Ziege.  However, Ferguson's men stormed back to a 5-3 win by full-time in a stunning fightback.

The 'Untouchables' - 2003/04 season

Saturday May 15 2004, history was made.  Arsene Wenger's Arsenal beat Leicester City 2-1 at Highbury to complete an amazing feat; a whole 38-game league season unbeaten.  They won 26, drew 12, lost absolutely none.  It is something that is incredibly unlikely that we will see ever again.  Quite possibly the most remarkable achievement ever in English football.

Chelsea and Mourinho conquer the league - April 2005

Second place; their best league finish for 49 years wasn't enough for Roman Abramovich.  He sacked Claudio Ranieri and replaced him with 'The Special One,' Jose Mourinho.  Chelsea went onto score the most amount of Premiership wins in a season, least goals conceded in a season, most points in a Premiership season and wrapped up the title with a Frank Lampard double at the Reebok.  Chelsea were now a permanent force at the top of the English game.

Survival Sunday - May 2005
For the first time ever in Premiership history, the fate of the three relegated clubs would only be decided on the last day of the season.  Norwich City went into the day, with the fate in their own hands.  However, a 6-0 drubbing at Fulham ended their top-flight status.  Despite scoring first, Southampton lost 2-1 at home to Manchester United and went down as well.  It was between West Brom and Crystal Palace.  Palace went 2-1 ahead at Charlton, courtesy of an Andy Johnson penalty, but conceded late on and Albion's 2-0 success over Portsmouth was enough for the Baggies to stay up.  The first side to do so in Premiership history having been bottom at Christmas.