Friday 4 November 2016 20:41, UK
This week, Martin Tyler's column looks at teams on the longest winning runs against Premier League rivals and reveals the side with the most away points on 2015...
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I was at the Liberty Stadium to witness Swansea's third win in a row in the league over Manchester United and their fourth win in their last five against them - all by a scoreline of 2-1.
This time they came from behind, just as they did in February when Bafetimbi Gomis also scored the winner. Ki Sung-yueng scored in both league games last year and was in the Sunderland League Cup semi-final side that beat United in 2013/14. They won't have been too pleased to see him when he came on!
Swansea join Manchester City as the only club to have won both their home games so far in the Premier League this season. Gomis became only the second player to score in the first four games of a season for Swansea and the first in the top division. The only other was Harry Deacon, who did it in 1923 in the Third Division South. Gomis has scored nine in his last 10 Premier League appearances, having scored two in his first 25 when he had to play second fiddle to Wilfried Bony and didn't always start.
In contrast, Wayne Rooney has failed to score in his last 10 in the Premier League and only once in the last 17 months away from home in the Premier League - at Arsenal. He has not scored in his last 15 away games.
On a positive note he took his tally of career club goals to 250 with his hat-trick against Club Brugge and is on 48 England goals. He could break Bobby Charlton's England record on Saturday and also rack up 300 for club and country.
Slow starters
Chelsea have four points from four games… has a team ever done that and won the title? Marcus
MARTIN SAYS: It has been done before, but not since the first-ever Premier League season in 1992/93, when Manchester United mustered the same amount from their opening four games yet still went on to lift the title.
That year, United lost their opener at Sheffield United and were beaten again at home to Everton, but recovered with a point against Ipswich then nicked a win at Southampton to begin a run of five straight victories to kick-start their triumphant campaign. It was obviously a 42-game season so they had more games to put it right.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side also managed to win the title twice after winning just FIVE points from their opening four games, in 2007/08 and 2008/09, and did the same winning just SIX points in 1996/97.
No side, however, have claimed the Premier League title after managing six points or fewer from their opening five games of the season, something Chelsea may want to keep in mind when they travel to Everton in their next Premier League match!
Serial winners
Arsenal have now won eight in a row against Newcastle. Who's on the longest winning run against a fellow Premier League side? GunnerRick1985
MARTIN SAYS: Arsenal's run of eight wins in a row against Newcastle is the joint-third longest run still going in the Premier League.
Manchester City currently lead the way with 11 in a row against Newcastle (January 2009-present), and Manchester United have won their last 10 against Charlton Athletic (September 2002-present) - although the Addicks haven't been in the Premier League since their relegation in 2007.
Chelsea and Man City also sit alongside Arsenal on a run of eight consecutive wins against Bolton (relegated in 2012) and West Brom respectively.
In terms of longest winning runs in Premier League history, Manchester United beat Wigan Athletic 13 times in a row (December 2005 - December 2011), a streak ended by the Latics with a 1-0 win at home in April 2012.
The Red Devils also won 11 games in a row against Aston Villa (2003-08), while Chelsea (Sunderland from 2002-10; West Brom from 2002-11) and Arsenal (Manchester City 1994-04) have also both matched that total.
Seeing red
West Ham have picked up three red cards in their opening four games… is this a record? TimPotts
MARTIN SAYS: West Ham's record of three reds in their first four Premier League games equals Leicester's indisciplined start to the 2003/04 season.
The Foxes avoided a red card in their opening game of that campaign, but then saw Alan Rogers and Riccardo Scimeca sent off in a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea. They finished their next game with 11 men on the pitch, before Les Ferdinand was dismissed as they lost their fourth 3-1 at Aston Villa.
This season, the Hammers managed to avoid a red card in their opener, but goalkeeper Adrian, right-back Carl Jenkinson and midfielder Mark Noble (whose red card has been rescinded) have been sent off in their last three (and that's on top of three red cards in the Europa League - which they qualified for through fair play).
However, the side that reached three red cards in the shortest time was Arsenal, who saw a red card in each of their first three games of the 2011/12 season: Gervinho in their goalless opener with Newcastle, Emmanuel Frimpong as they lost 2-0 to Liverpool, then Jenkinson when they were thrashed 8-2 at Manchester United.
Away-day specialists
Which Premier League side has the most away points in 2015? Melvin (Crystal Palace fan)
MARTIN SAYS: No team in the Premier League has picked up more points away from home in 2015 than your club, Crystal Palace.
The Eagles have 25 points from 11 games in the calendar year so far, level with Arsenal. The two sides have won eight, drawn one and lost just two, but Palace have scored four more goals (21) than the Gunners (17), with both conceding 10.
It must be frustrating for you Melvin that one of the reasons Arsenal are level is because six of those 25 points have come AT Crystal Palace!
Chelsea have the next best away record in 2015, with 22 points (seven wins, one draw and three defeats) while Liverpool have mustered 19 points in the same time frame, although they have played 12 games on the road (five wins, four draws and three defeats).
Swansea and Manchester United have both managed 18 points, but Garry Monk's side have played 12 games (five wins, three draws and four defeats) to United's 11 (five wins, three draws and three defeats).
Shot-shy sides
What's the longest a team has gone without a shot on target? Newcastle haven't had one in their last two matches. John O'Hare
MARTIN SAYS: Watford have also failed to register a shot on target in their last two Premier League games.
No team since the 2006/07 season has gone three consecutive games without a shot on target.
Portsmouth (2006), Hull City (2009), Everton (2011) and Sunderland (2012) have all gone two games without managing to get a shot on goal, but Newcastle and Watford could both make it to three.
Newcastle travel to West Ham for Monday Night Football live on Sky Sports on September 14 in search of a shot on target, after failing to do so against Manchester United and Arsenal, and I will be commentating on it. I hope for lots of shots on target from both teams!
