'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It was a whole new ball game in English football when the Premier League was formed and the new era kicked off in August 1992. On the opening weekend, Leeds United, who were the last champions of the Football League beat Wimbledon 2-1, whilst Sheffield United defeated Manchester United by the same scoreline.
Brian Deane had the honour of scoring the first Premier League goal in this match, heading past Peter Schmeichel in the fifth minute.
How the season shaped up
Despite collecting just one point from their opening three matches, the Red Devils would be right in the race for the first Premier League title, along with surprise packages Norwich City and Aston Villa. The Canaries led at Christmas but faded in the final part of the campaign. Nevertheless, they still finished an excellent third.
In April 1993, Manchester United was at home to Sheffield Wednesday and needed to win to keep the pressure up on Villa. They trailed into the dying stages through a John Sheridan penalty.
They needed a hero and it came in the form of Steve Bruce. The defender scored two headers in injury time and it produced famous pitchside celebrations from Alex Ferguson and Brian Kidd. United won 2-1 and they were on the road to glory.
How Villa surrendered and United triumphed
Three weeks later, Villa’s challenge died after a shock 1-0 loss to Oldham Athletic at home. Manchester United were champions of England once again after a wait of 26 years.
The following evening, Bruce and Bryan Robson lifted the trophy aloft at a packed Old Trafford after they’d beaten Blackburn Rovers 3-1. Ferguson’s side ultimately won the title by 10 points.
Elsewhere, and it was a sad end to the great career of Brian Clough. He retired from the game and as manager of Nottingham Forest. Unfortunately, it ended with their relegation to Division One.
They would be joined by Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace, who lost at Highbury 3-0 to Arsenal on the final day of the campaign. Oldham’s dramatic 4-3 victory over Southampton was enough for them to make a final day escape.
The first Premier League season had been one for the fans and it would mark the start of Manchester United’s early domination of the new English era.
Champions: Manchester United
Runners-Up: Aston Villa
Third Place: Norwich City
Relegated: Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest
Biggest Win: Blackburn Rovers 7-1 Norwich City
Highest Scoring Game: Liverpool FC 6-2 Tottenham Hotspur and
Blackburn Rovers 7-1 Norwich City
Top Goalscorer: Teddy Sheringham (22)
Goals Scored: 1222
