1996-97 Season - May
Summary
At the start of the month United still had an outside chance of the Championship, second place and the Champions League was a more realistic target. Even then three away games out of four including games against Arsenal and Man United made this a tall order.
Three clean sheets on their travels and a last game nap against relegated Nottingham Forest meant that Geordies were indeed to be in the Champions League.
Off the pitch Dalglish was preparing for next season and rumours abounded about players coming and going.
Albert, Beardsley, Ferdinand, Srnicek, Peacock and even Alan Shearer were all linked with potential moves whilst United were linked with Danny Murphy and Alessandro del Piero.
Definitely on their way to SJP were Jon Dal Tommason, Shay Given and Blackburn's goalkeeper coach Terry Gennoe. Ray Harford meanwhile denied he was also going to renew acquaintances with Dalglish.
A new kit was launched. "You can't con the fans and if they don't like it they won't buy it. But I think they will get it in their numbers" said a confident Freddie Fletcher.
Meanwhile in Colombia Tino allegedly head-butted a policeman during a concert in his home town of Tulua.
Diary
| 1996/97 | 3rd May | Prem | Arsenal [A] | Won | 1-0 [1-0] | 38,179 |
- 01 - Srnicek
- 19 - Watson
- 03 - Beresford
- 05 - Peacock
- 02 - Barton
- 04 - Batty
- 07 - Lee [s]
- 11 - Asprilla [s]
- 10 - Ferdinand
- 09 - Shearer
- 26 - Elliott [1]
- 20 - Clark [s7]
- 18 - Gillespie [s11]
The month started with a game that was always competitive and often bordered on anarchic. It was settled by a single goal in first half stoppage time from Robbie Elliot (his 6th in 13 games)
It was a battling team performance where everyone played their part including the returning Srniceck who made a series of brilliant stops.
Keith Gillespie's sending off 12 minutes from time had Les Ferdinand acting as an emergency defender but the visitors held on for a famous and crucial victory.
The result allowed United to leapfrog The Gunners and move into 3rd place.
| 1996/97 | 6th May | Prem | WHU [A] | Drew | 0-0 [0-0] | 24,617 |
- 01 - Srnicek
- 19 - Watson
- 03 - Beresford
- 05 - Peacock
- 27 - Albert
- 02 - Barton
- 04 - Batty
- 20 - Clark
- 11 - Asprilla [s]
- 09 - Shearer
- 26 - Elliott
- 18 - Gillespie [s11]
With Robert Lee out, Shearer captained the side for the first time as United took on the struggling Hammers at Upton Park. Tony Blair was in the stands to cheer on his pre-birth heroes but there was little to get anybody worked up as United's conservative approach ground out a null draw.
In a game of few chances it was The Hammers who had the most although only a brilliant save from Miklosko denied Shearer 16 minutes from the end.
The draw meant United had remained undefeated in the capital for the first time in almost 60 years; unfortunately it also meant that it was mathematically impossible for us to catch Man United.
| 1996/97 | 8th May | Prem | Man Utd [A] | Drew | 0-0 [0-0] | 55,236 |
- 01 - Srnicek
- 19 - Watson
- 03 - Beresford
- 05 - Peacock
- 27 - Albert
- 02 - Barton
- 04 - Batty
- 18 - Gillespie
- 10 - Ferdinand [s]
- 09 - Shearer
- 26 - Elliott
- 11 - Asprilla [s10]
United formed a guard of honour for the new Champions before battling their way to another goal less draw. Three away games and three clean sheets; unheard of before or since.
Once again United adopted a defensive approach; stifling the play of the overhung Red Devils.
| 1996/97 | 11th May | Prem | Nottm F [H] | Won | 5-0 [4-0] | 36,544 |
- 01 - Srnicek
- 19 - Watson
- 03 - Beresford
- 05 - Peacock
- 27 - Albert [s]
- 02 - Barton
- 04 - Batty [s]
- 11 - Asprilla [s]
- 10 - Ferdinand
- 09 - Shearer
- 26 - Elliott
- 18 - Gillespie [s27]
- 18 - Beardsley [s4]
- 20 - Clark [s11]
Life has taught Newcastle supporters to be eternally pessimistic but it is hard to imagine a day when so many things fell into place for the Geordie faithful.
At the start of play United were in 3rd place, two points behind Liverpool. At the other end Sunderland were in 17th and Middlesbrough were 18th.
United beat relegated Nottingham Forest whilst Liverpool could only draw at Hillsbrough allowing Newcastle to snatch the second Champions League place (on goal difference) from Arsenal and Liverpool.
Boro drew at Leeds, Sunderland lost at Wimbledon and Coventry won at Tottenham to send both the Makems and the Smoggies down. Boro would have stayed up if they hadn't been docked 3 points for failing to fulfil a fixture.
Asprilla brilliantly chipped in with the first [21st] and two minutes later the Colombian ace set up Les Ferdinand who slotted home his 20th goal of the season.
Four more minutes and it was three when Barton brilliantly played Sir Les in to grab his second. Shearer headed home his 28th goal of the campaign in the 36th minute
.United eased off in the second but there was still time for Robbie Elliot to find the net again.