Classic Premiership Matches 81-100

In the past 18 seasons, football fans across the globe have been treated to some cracking Premiership matches.  On the eve of the 19th season beginning tomorrow, here is a look-back at some classics down the years.

81.           Arsenal                                    2-2           Chelsea                                    Sunday 12^th December 2004

This was Jose Mourinho’s biggest test so far and as Sky Sports referred it to as ‘JUDGEMENT DAY.’  If it was a test, his side passed it with flying colours in a blockbuster of a London derby.  Thierry Henry smashed the champions infront after only 90 seconds, but John Terry responded with a wonderful header.  Henry gifted Arsenal back the lead, with a controversial free-kick, but Chelsea showed they were ready to take the crown away from a deadly foe and scrambled back level through Eidur Gudjohnsen early in the 2^nd half.  This was a worthy point for the new Kings of London.

82.           Nottingham Forest                 3-2           QPR                                        Sunday 2^nd October 1994

Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten start to the 1994/95 season remained, after a goal-busting 2^nd half in the Nottingham rain.  After a tepid first half, the game sparked into life with a spectacular 2^nd half, due to a top corner buster by Kingsley Black.  Les Ferdinand, Bryan Roy & substitute Bradley Allen traded goals in the next half hour and it was left to Forest’s golden boy, Stan Collymore to net the winner in the 88^th minute. 

83.           Southampton                          3-2           Charlton Athletic                    Sunday 7^th December 2003

Normally, this type of game has 0-0 written all over it, but with two sides in such decent form, it wasn’t going to happen, especially as it was televised.  Southampton had been cruising at half-time, two goals to the good through Michael Svensson and Brett Ormerod.  Charlton roared back into the contest through their playmaker, Scott Parker with two fantastic strikes, making him a popular name throughout the whole of London.  It wasn’t enough for a point though, as Ormerod hit the winner in the 86^th minute.

84.           Manchester United                  2-3           Derby County                         Saturday 5^th April 1997

Once again, an easy home banker was turned on its head, especially by the leggy Costa Rican forward Paulo Wanchope.  Making his Premiership debut, he took on the whole of the United defence and left the backline dazed at his quite incredible solo effort.  Now that is some way to make your mark in England.

85.           Birmingham City                    2-2           Arsenal                                    Saturday 23^rd February 2008

This game was the utter defining moment in the season for Arsenal, as the young guns collapsed totally in the run-in.  The match is overshadowed for a sickening challenge by Martin Taylor on Eduardo in the first minute.  Eduardo was stretchered off with a double leg fracture and his football career in genuine doubt and quite rightly, Taylor was dismissed.  With Arsenal 2-1 up in the dying stages, Gael Clichy conceded a soft penalty, which James McFadden converted.  Captain William Gallas lost the plot afterwards and had to be controlled by Arsene Wenger; it had been a pivotal lunchtime crunch for the Gunners and showed true weaknesses.

86.           Norwich City                          4-4           Middlesbrough                        Saturday 22^nd January 2005

Trailing 4-1 to Champions League chasing Middlesbrough with just nine minutes to go, the last rites were being written for Nigel Worthington’s side.  However, Dean Ashton sparked a sensational finish with his first goal for the Canaries.  Leon McKenzie’s brave header gave real hope to the home supporters and Carrow Road exploded in joy when Adam Drury completed the remarkable turnaround in stoppage time.  It wasn’t a win, but it must have felt like it.

87.           Manchester City                     2-3           Tottenham Hotspur                                Monday 23^rd December 2002

Two sides managed by former England head coaches put on a pre-Christmas cracker.  Ali Bernarbia’s curling shot was the pick of the goals and Christian Ziege was sent off, but headers through Chris Perry, Simon Davies and Gus Poyet steered Glenn Hoddle’s side to victory in their last visit to Maine Road.

88.           Fulham                                    3-4           Blackburn Rovers                   Monday 12^th April 2004

This vital win sealed in a topsy-turvy game was essential to Graeme Souness’s Blackburn avoiding the dreaded drop.  The winning strike came from Jon Stead on the hour mark and despite two goals by new Cottagers signing, Collins John, he ended up on the losing side.

89.           Newcastle United                    2-6           Manchester United                  Saturday 12^th April 2003

Newcastle’s vague title ambitions were destroyed by a ruthless Manchester United side, determined to get their hands back on the Premiership crown.  Despite a genius strike from Jermaine Jenas to break the deadlock, Newcastle ended up 4-1 down by half-time and 6-1 adrift by the hour mark.  Paul Scholes hit a rare hat-trick and Ruud Van Nistlerooy scored another penalty, equalling a Premiership record for most converted penalties in the season.  In the battle of the knights, Sir Alex held all the top cards over Sir Bobby.

90.           Chelsea                                    2-4           Manchester City                     Saturday 27^th February 2010

This match will be remembered the most for the infamous non-handshake between former pals John Terry and Wayne Bridge.  Terry’s private life had been exposed in the papers, with allegations of him having an affair with Bridge’s former girlfriend.  He lost the England captaincy and at this point, his club form dipped too.  Chelsea had a day to forget, despite Frank Lampard putting them ahead before half-time.  By the time Lampard got his second, from the penalty spot, City had ran riot and gone into a 4-1 lead, courtesy of doubles from Craig Bellamy and Carlos Tevez.  Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti were both sent off, this was a day of misery for the Blues and a joyous result for Wayne Bridge.

91.           Aston Villa                              3-2           Coventry City                         Saturday 5^th May 2001

To preserve their top-flight status, Coventry had to win this match at Villa Park and things were going well at half-time, with two corkers by Youssef Chippo.  Unfortunately for the Sky Blues, they were pegged back in the second half by old boys, George Boateng and Dion Dublin.  The killer was provided by Paul Merson in the closing moments to send Coventry crashing into Division 1.

92.           Manchester City                     3-1           Manchester United                  Saturday 9^th November 2002

The last ever Manchester derby at Maine Road produced a rare success for the Citizens half of Manchester.  A brace from Shaun Goater, culminating in 100 goals for the club gave Kevin Keegan’s side a memorable triumph to look back on forever.

93.           Chelsea                                    4-3           Tottenham Hotspur                                Sunday 27^th February 1994

Two down inside twenty minutes, Chelsea steamed back into the contest through Dennis Wise and a quickfire double from hotshot John Spencer.  Darren Anderton levelled matters in the second half, before a controversial penalty, slotted home by Mark Stein handed the West London outfit an improbable result.

94.           Charlton Athletic                    4-4           West Ham United                   Monday 19^th November 2001

A London derby full of drama thrills and spills.  The forgotten man of the Premiership, Paul Kitson hit an unlikely hat-trick and when Jermain Defoe scored his first ever Premiership goal against his former side, the Hammers were on course for a stunning win, having trailed the Addicks twice.  In injury time, a spectacular overhead kick from the charismatic striker Jonatan Johansson ensured a deserved share of the spoils.

95.           Manchester United                  2-2           Liverpool                                                Sunday 1^st October 1995

This was the day when the King of Old Trafford return.  Red No.7 returned on the grand stage and created a goal for Nicky Butt inside 60 seconds.  Liverpool’s own ace, Robbie Fowler rammed in an equaliser, smashing a Sky camera in the process.  He then took his second goal clinically, punishing Gary Neville for some slack defending.  In the 70^th minute, Ryan Giggs was tripped by Jamie Redknapp and a penalty awarded by David Elleray.  Cantona did the business, sending David James the wrong way, earning United a draw and announcing to the world: ‘I’m back.’

96.           Everton                                   2-3           Chelsea                                    Sunday 17^th December 2006

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea weren’t involved in many pulsating Premiership classics, but this was an exception to that rule.  Missing John Terry through injury, the champions were trailing 2-1 with ten minutes to play on Merseyside.  Step forward Frank Lampard with a classic strike, then Didier Drogba with the goal of the season to record Chelsea a massive win in the race for the title. 

97.           Bradford City                         4-4           Derby County                         Friday 21^st April 2000

This was a Good Friday bonanza between two relegation stragglers.  Derby went 2-0 up inside ten minutes, were trailing 3-2 by the interval and needed two red cards and a couple of cool penalties from skipper Craig Burley to rescue themselves a draw at Valley Parade.

98.           Chelsea                                    2-3           Arsenal                                    Sunday 21^st September 1997

At a new look Stamford Bridge, fans and neutrals were treated to an attacking feast of football from two championship contenders.  Gus Poyet tapped Chelsea into the lead, but two dodgy pieces of defending by Michael Duberry allowed Dennis Bergkamp in to hand the Gunners the lead.  Almost immediately, Gianfranco Zola responded in kind and despite Franck Lebouef seeing red for two bookable offences, the game looked set for a draw.  Then, in the 89^th minute, Nigel Winterburn produced a real rabbit from the hat to stun the Blues into silence.  A key win for Arsene Wenger’s side, this highlighting their push towards a maiden championship.

99.           Arsenal                                    1-3           Newcastle United                    Tuesday 18^th December 2001

November 1997 had been the last time Newcastle had won in the capital before this crunch meeting at Highbury, but they ended the jinx in some style.  Robert Pires gave Arsenal a half-time lead, but Ray Parlour was sent off for two yellow cards.  Andy O’Brien headed home an equaliser early in the second half, before Graham Poll’s second dodgy dismissal saw Craig Bellamy heading for an early shower.  He then should have sent off Sol Campbell with five minutes to go for hauling down Laurent Robert by being last man.  Only a penalty was given, but Newcastle didn’t mind as Alan Shearer banged the ball past Richard Wright.  Robert sealed a famous win for the Magpies in the closing stages, overshadowed by a late Thierry Henry rant that left him with a fine and one-match suspension for violent conduct.

100.         Manchester United                  1-4           Liverpool                                                Saturday 14^th March 2009

Liverpool had to win this game to stand any hope of winning their first championship in nearly two decades and they tore the European champions to shreds in their own backyard.  Things didn’t look good for Rafa Benitez when Pepe Reina fouled Ji-Sung Park and Cristiano Ronaldo blasted the penalty home.  Moment’s later, Fernando Torres capitalised fully on a rare Nemanja Vidic error to level the scores.  When Patrice Evra fouled Torres on the stroke of half-time, Steven Gerrard’s penalty gave the host an unlikely lead.  Vidic was later dismissed and from the resulting free-kick, Fabio Aurelio curled in a beauty to wrap up the outcome.  To add insult to injury, Liverpool misfit Andrea Dossena produced a golden moment by lobbing Edwin Van Der Sar in stoppage time to compound United’s misery and highlight Liverpool’s glee.  The title race was back on.