Top Ten: Late Premier League winners
Squeaky Bum Time: A phrase coined by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and defined as "the tense final stages of a league competition, especially from the point of view of the leaders."
We all know the feeling, the final moments, the rising tension as another ball is pumped into the box as the goalkeeper sprints up field to provide yet another aerial threat. We’ve all felt the jubilation of our team stealing it at the last and the despondence of seeing three points cruelly and no doubt unfairly snatched away. There have been some memorable late dramas over the course of the Premier League; defining moments that are now etched into our football memory, signifying the reasons why we are in love with the beautiful game. After Aaron Lennon’s late strike for Tottenham at the weekend, join Sport.co.uk as we take a look at the top 10 late winners in the Premier League.
Stan Collymore: Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle 1996Voted as game of the decade in a Premier League poll, this ding-dong battle, in hindsight at least, defined the losing side that season. Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United were flying high in the league and odds on to claim their first title in over 70 years. However, despite leading 2-1 and 3-2, Robbie Fowler’s equaliser sent the game into stoppage time all square. Cue Stan the Man to smash the winner past Pavel Srnicek, as an exasperated Keegan flopped over the Anfield hoardings, as it dawned on him it may not be there year after all.
Michael Owen: Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City 2009Proof that derbies can be entertaining games and a lesson for Roberto Mancini following the drab Eastlands encounter this season. The match saw the sorcerer against the apprentice as Mark Hughes and the City millions rolled into Old Trafford. City came from behind three times in the game and looked to have nicked a point themselves when a wayward Rio Ferdinand pass allowed Craig Bellamy to grab his second of the game and tie the match at three goals apiece. But as is so often the case, it’s not over until Fergie says so and in the sixth minute of stoppage time Michael Owen popped up to poke in a dramatic winner and win over any doubters the former Liverpool man may have had.
Nwankwo Kanu: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal 1999For seventy five minutes it was all going so well for the home side with two headed goals from Dan Petrescu and Tore Andre Flo giving them a comfortable and deserved lead. With Dennis Bergkamp missing from the side, the Gunners lacked a creative spark but were given hope when Kanu turned in a Marc Overmars cross. The big Nigerian was on target again ten minutes later as Arsenal looked to be escaping with an unlikely draw. However the gangly forward had one more trick up his sleeve, jinking past the outrushing De Goey and then curling the ball into the top corner from the tightest of angles.
Nolberto Solano: Leeds 3-4 Newcastle 2001Bobby Robson took his high flying young guns to Elland Road knowing that a win would keep them at the top of the league at Christmas. The game also saw the return of Lee Bowyer to the starting line up and it was the controversial midfielder’s goal that cancelled out Craig Bellamy’s opener. It got better for the home side as strikes from Ian Harte and Mark Viduka gave them what looked like an unassailable lead. But this was the era when comebacks were ten a penny on Tyneside and Robbie Elliott’s 59th minute header gave the Magpies hope. Captain Shearer levelled from the spot twelve minutes later and sparked a furore between the sides as they both went looking for the win. With a draw looking increasingly likely, Nolberto Solano popped up in the ninetieth minute to slide the ball past Nigel Martyn and complete a memorable comeback for the men in black and white.
Hernan Crespo: Wigan 0-1 Chelsea 2005The Special One started his second season in England with an unenviable trip to Premier League new boys Wigan. Pre-match betting had suggested a comfortable opening day for the champions but Paul Jewell’s Wigan defied the odds a produced a top draw performance from the first minute to last. In what was an entertaining 0-0 at the time, Mourinhio attempted to turn the tide in his favour at half time with £30 million worth of substitutes in the shape of Joe Cole and Shaun Wright Phillips. Yet, Wigan continued to stifle the Blues and but for a couple of good saves from Petr Cech could have pinched all three points themselves. It looked to be one of those baron days in front of goal until Hernan Crespo hit a sublime shot into the roof of the net to give Chelsea their first win of what would be another championship winning campaign.
Roman Pavlyuchenko: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Liverpool 2008This could well be one of the most important goals on the list, not just because it took Spurs off the bottom of the league, which in turn was the catalyst for their cataclysmic rise to modern day- it also helped create Harry’s immortal ‘two points from eight games’ phrase which was uttered after almost every win during this season. The game itself saw Liverpool as strong favourites and this was further emphasised when Dirk Kuyt gave them a 3rd minute lead. But as we now know this was not the Ramos Tottenham and it was that renewed vigour and intensity that saw Jamie Carragher stick the ball in his own net for a home side equaliser. A point would have sufficed, but Pavlyuchenko’s late winner sent the ‘Lane delirious and well and truly started the Redknapp revolution.
Steve Bruce: Manchester United 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday 1993As United marched toward their first title since 1967 the Owls proved a sticky opponent for the Red Devils and went into the final five minutes of the game with a one goal advantage thanks to John Sheridan. As nerves began to be frayed and fingernails rapidly diminishing Steve Bruce headed in an equaliser with only four minutes left on the clock. An injury to the referee and the introduction to the Premier League of “Fergie Time” meant that a further seven minutes were added and it was that man again who doubled his tally.
Gary McAllister: Everton 2-3 Liverpool 2001If ever there was a lesson in how to write yourself into folklore, then this is it. The game looked destined to finish 2-2 when David Unsworth scored from the penalty spot with only nine minutes left on the clock. But the former Leeds man had other ideas when he was presented with an opportunity after a foul on Gregory Vignal. The Everton defence were excepting the ball to be whipped in to one of the advanced centre halves, however McAllister brilliantly curled the ball into the corner from 45 yards, catching the unfortunate Paul Gerrard out of position, and ensuring pride for the red half of Merseyside.
Wayne Rooney: Everton 2-1 Arsenal 2002With all that’s gone on recently it’s difficult to remember Wayne Rooney as a fresh faced youngster (well as fresh as possible). Sporting his later inflammatory ‘once a blue always a blue ’ t-shirt the young Scouse forward expertly beat David Seaman with a goal that had Arsene Wenger proclaiming; “Rooney is the biggest English talent I have seen since I arrived in England.” It’s not often that Mr Wenger gets things wrong and personal misdemeanours aside there’s no doubting that he is not far off the mark. This goal ended Arsenal’s 30 game unbeaten run and both club &country will hope Rooney can start reproducing these magic moments.
Graham Fenton: Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Newcastle United 1996Just five days after the fateful 4-3 at Liverpool, the Toon Army once again fell victim to another late show and this time the perpetrator was one of their own. Wallsend born Graham Fenton, assisted by future Geordie hero Alan Shearer, struck in the 86th & 89thminute to compound even more misery on Kevin Keegan’s side. The result left the Magpies six points behind leaders Manchester United and forced Keegan to admit that the title may well now be out of their grasp. Two late goals in a week ultimately ended a title dream as Mr Squeaky Bum Time himself once again ran out victorious.
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