Remembering season 2001-02

[Higham_Claret]

23 years ago, under the management of Stan, we topped the league and looked odds-on for a play-off place, if not automatic promotion. Alas, we famously ended with neither prize.

Merely for comparison with today’s table, this was our record at Christmas Day 2001 :
P25 W15 D5 L5 F48 A33 GD15 Pts50
We topped the league by 4 points from Wolves and 5 points clear of Man City, though we’d played a game more than City.

At the end of the season we finished 7th some 24 points behind Man City, 14 fewer than WBA and 11 points behind Wolves. Those were the top 3. Our full season stats read: P46 W21 D12 L13 F70 A62 GD8 Pts75

Whilst I remain confident we will secure at least a play-off place this season, a look back to 2001-02 reminds us that much can yet change at the top. Indeed, Dirty Leeds might yet emulate our 2001-02 season

[JR1882]

Was this the season that ended with the Gazza free kicks against Coventry on the last day?

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Was this the season that ended with the Gazza free kicks against Coventry on the last day?

It was. I remember listening to the commentary in an internet cafe in Auckland and getting some bemused looks at my outburst to the save! Was it Norwich who pipped us to 6th place?

[Higham_Claret]

Yes, that’s the one. We finished behind Norwich on goal difference (+8 versus their +9).
As I recall, Norwich’s final fixture was at home to bottom placed (and already relegated) Stockport County. Before our game at home to Coventry had even kicked off, Stockport’s goalkeeper had been sent off! Norwich eased to a 2-0 win which, sadly, we were unable to match, winning 1-0.
Birmingham won promotion via the play-offs.

[bfcjg]

Was this the season that ended with the Gazza free kicks against Coventry on the last day?

He was a shambolic signing,however it was all geared up for that frre kick to sail in and he'd be a hero, if only .
The collapse that season after Christmas was stark.
I remember the chant to the song " hey Burnley Burnley, I wanna know are you going up ? "

[TheFamilyCat]

The first half of that season was terrific entertainment, 3-2 wins at Birmingham, Bradford and Preston with Super Glen virtually unplayable.

The postponement on Boxing Day at Rotherham, then a mauling at City really knocked us off our stride.

[Rowls]

Paul Cook and Kevin Ball were unbeatable in centre midfield and Glen Little unplayable on the wing.

We had admirable supporting roles all over the pitch.

Sadly, it was the ageing legs of Cook and Ball that prompted our 2nd half collapse. If they'd had a keen young runner playing with them in midfield, maybe we'd have kept going?

[CaptJohn]

I recall going to Grimsby and being three down early in the 1st half
Something was clearly amiss. I think we ended up losing 3-1. Gazza did SFA.