Season 4, Part 2: Title Run In!
Rochdale are a staggering TEN points clear at the top of the Premier League going into the second half of the season – Here is how that happened – and we’re still in both cups, could Rochdale actually do it?
We continue our excellent run of from against Leeds, demolishing them 6-1 and the doubters are starting to believe that ‘Dale can do it, with another win and a 2-2 draw versus Derby before Man Utd come visiting in the FA Cup.
It’s not a great game for the neutrals as United offer very little and we eventually run out 1-0 winners thanks to a Henderson goal early in the second half. We then win a thrilling encounter away at Goodison Park as we come from 2-1 down at half time to beat Everton 3-2 with a last minute winner from Andy Howard.
The effort seems to have taken it’s toll though as we go to Villa Park in the Coca-Cola Cup. Neither side can find the net as Nii Lamptey shines for Villa, and after a goaless 120 minutes it’s down to penalties. Captain Carter has been going through a bit of a dip in form, and unfortunately his is the only penalty saved by Bosnich and we’re eliminated in the shootout.
We get our chance at revenge swiftly afterwards though as we’re drawn against Villa again in the FA Cup. This time things go our way in the second half after falling behind to a Steve Staunton strike and in our tiny little ground packed to the rafters we surge back with Betts scoring a brace as this time we go through. Still no easy games for us as we get Blacburn Rovers in the next round!
We’ve got them next in the league too. Despite out playing them completely we can’t find a way past their defense and we take a frustrating point, hoping we can break them down in our next visit to them in the cup.
It’s a cagey match, and we get an early goal disallowed. Paul Warhurst breaks away as we’re reeling from the decision and slides one in past Buxton. We go on the offensive creating chance after chance but can’t break through until the 80th minute when Chris Myers, initially a squad player who has made his mark to become a first team regular now, smashes one home from range to get us an equaliser, but we can’t find a winner, so it’s back to Sandy Lane for a replay.
It seems Blackburn, under Kenny Dalglish, have us figured out, as once again we just can’t find a way past Tim Flowers. Sutton scores for Rovers before the break, and despite laying seige to the Blackburn goal, chances go begging and they hold on to send us out 0-1. Our record in four games against Rovers this seaosn is P4 W0 D2 L2 F1 A3. The have our number it seems, watch out for them in future! Time to concentrate on the league.
Despite exiting both cups, we’re still on a long undefeated streak in the league, that comes up against a stern test in the next run of fixtures as we face 2 of the chasing pack, Swindon and Liverpool, current champions Tottenham, and a team we’re building a bit of a rivalry with, Aston Villa.
We decide to make a bit of a change, shuffling the line up slightly and after much discussion, relieving Carter of the Captaincy, vice Captain and our first England International Mark Limbert taking over. It seems to work as Carter gives his best performance in a long time and scores, along with Howard, and we beat 2nd place Swindon 2-1, before seeing of Spurs at Sandy Lane 1-0, Howard scoring again for the 3rd match running and showing just how good he is. We decide on another change following these goals and performances, and make Howard our permanent club Captain.
We draw away at Anfield, and Villa continue to be a thorn in our side as they frustrate us and nick a 1-0 second half win, giving us our first league defeat in 24 matches! Despite the loss, that run of games has put us on course for the title, being 13 points ahead of Liverpool with 8 games to go. Swindon have dropped off after the defeat by us, and our favourite Annual Runners Up Newcastle(tm), Barnsley and Derby make up the chasing pack.
We see off Barnsley in a 4-2 goalfest, Carter and Howard proving our decisions correct as their performances and goals improve, with Carter putting on a stunning show to almost single handedly brush aside Arsenal scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory, with Howard getting the 4th. Continuing what seems to be a new trend for us, a young D LC gets promoted from the England U21’s to the senior squad for a game as Wayne Ripley follows in Mark Limbert’s footsteps from last season!
We next go to Manchester City, knowing that a win for us, and other results going our way, mean we can end the day as Champions. Carter is out with a slight knock so we give reserve team graduate Lee Small a start in what could be a momentous occasion. But things do not go according to plan as we go behind to a Mike Sheron strike before halftime. In the second half we make a few changes but fail to rise to the challenge, nerves perhaps getting to the lads, and Uwe Rosler bundles a second goal in for City and we have to wait another match to see if we can do it, losing 2-0.
Liverpool also lose at Newcastle as they strive to retain their 2nd place, so the other Manchester team make the short trip up to Rochdale to try and stop us claiming the title at Sandy Lane. The atmosphere is rocking and spurred on by the noise we take an early lead, top scorer Kenny Betts hooking one home before Steve Mulrain gets away to score for us again before the break. 45 minutes to the title, and things look even better as Betts nods home our third, then Captain Howard nets a fourth! Gerhard Rodax takes advantage late on as our focus drops as the party has already started! We seal the title with a 4-1 win as news comes through that Liverpool have only managed a 2-2 draw with rivals Swindon.
Rochdale are English Champions!
The hangover kicks in as we fail to win away at Ipswich as they’re fighting for survival still, but 0-0 doesn’t help them and they’re relegated along with Charlton, and in the last three games we beat Q.P.R., who also get relegated, FA Cup finalists (again) Oldham and Coca-Cola cup winners Crystal Palace, who beat our foes Aston Villa in the final. We finish a massive 17 points clear of Liverpool. What an achievement for Rochdale!
Final day drama in Division 1 as any one of 6 teams can drop in the last relegation spot, W.B.A., Norwich, Tranmere, Port Vale, Forest and Wimbledon all at risk with Notts County and Sheffield Utd already down. Forest see off Grimsby to stay safe, whilst West Brom and Wimbledon draw their games and are safe too. Port Vale fight hard but can only draw 1-1 so need either Norwich or Tranmere to lose. Norwich see out a nervy 0-0 draw with Brentford, and Tranmere come from a goal down at half time, and a man down after Paul Cook is sent off, to draw 1-1, costing Chelsea a playoff spot and sending Vale down.
At the other end West Ham and Southampton both lose, West Ham holding on to the second automatic promotion spot behind Brighton. Southampton AGAIN lose in the playoffs as Leicester return to the Premier League. In division 3 the playoffs are a thing of beauty, as 7 teams fight for the last 2 playoff spots. And the shock happens as 10th place Oxford Utd are the only team to win, everyone else drawing, except for Cardiff who lose their match and their playoff spot! Oxford are destined for promotion it seems as they go on to beat local rivals Reading in the D3 final. Bristol Rovers drop out of the league, taking Scott Houghton with them!
Oldham retain the FA Cup again, 3rd season running! Porto and Milan can’t do the same and retain their European Trophies both losing in their respective finals to Juventus and Dynamo Prague. Marseille are the Champions of Europe, beating Bayern in the final.
Kenny Betts is the Premier League top scorer with 23, just pipping Oldham’s Don Hutchison on 22, and also wins supporters player off the season. Captain Andy Howard finishes the season on 19 from midfield, a fantastic haul, and also wins the Player of the Season just ahead of Leeds Belgium International Francis Severeyns, Betts and Liverpool’s Robbie Fowler.
Darren Anderton heads to Bordeaux for £3.6m and we need to upgrade our ground as Premier League Champions and now European Cup Challengers!
So Rochdale have done it! Premier League Champions! And with the squad who got us there too, without any big name signings. There might have to be a couple of new faces though if we want to retain our title, try to reach a cup final, and host some of the biggest names in Europe as we represent England in the European Cup! It’s going to be tough, find out how we get on next week!
I4NI 
One thought on “Quarantine Save Season 4, Part Two.”