Manic Monday

Shot-shy Man Utd's Monday record, goal difference and more title omens... it's Martin Tyler.

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Martin Tyler's stats and facts column is here! Every week he will be here to offer you statistical gems to make your day, impress your mates and, on occasion, settle the odd bet. Sky Sports' voice of football and his back-up team of experts are here to answer your questions and queries on all things statistical and historical from the beautiful game. If you have spotted something from a game or have been stumped by a pub quiz question, simply email skysportsclub@bskyb.com and he will do his best to help.

Tyler's Starting Stat - Manchester moments

I was at the 146th Manchester derby in the league to see City's 39th win overall. They've drawn 49 of those games, while United have 58 wins. Vincent Kompany also scored their first goal at home in the league against United since August 2007 when Geovanni netted in a 1-0 win. That goal was City's 88th in the league this season - the third highest tally in Premier League history. Chelsea managed 103 in 2009/10, while Man United got 97 in 1999/2000. The result means Man Utd have still never won away to Man City twice in the same season - they had a chance to do so after their FA Cup win at the Etihad Stadium in January. The result also meant we saw the 11th change of leadership in the league this season - and we could see it change again before the end of the campaign.

SEVENTH HEAVEN FOR CITY
Dear Martin. We only scored one goal against Manchester United, but that was all we needed. I suppose it would be greedy to ask for more after we put six past them at Old Trafford. But I was wondering, has any other team scored more than seven goals against Man United in a single Premier League season? Craig (Man City) MARTIN SAYS: Thanks to our friends at Opta, I can tell you that Manchester City have become only the third side in Premier League history to score seven times against Manchester United in a single Premier League season. The first to do so were Southampton back in 1996/97. The Saints famously beat United 6-3 at the Dell on October 26, but then lost 2-1 at Old Trafford on February 1 as they racked up seven goals against Sir Alex Ferguson's men. The other side to do this were Chelsea in 1999/00, who won 5-0 at Stamford Bridge on October 3 and then lost 3-2 at Old Trafford on April 24. No side has ever put more than seven goals past Manchester United in a single Premier League season, so City missed out on breaking that particular record, but they did become the first to score seven and do the double over them. They've also scored 11 in all competitions this term (but will choose to forget the defeats in the FA Cup and Community Shield). However, you'll notice that in each of the two previous seasons when they've conceded seven goals against a single opponent, Man United went on to lift the Premier League trophy!

MANIC MONDAY
Hi Martin. Before the derby I heard a stat that Manchester United have never lost a Monday football match. I remember in 1996 when United went to St James' Park and beat Newcastle 1-0 thanks to Eric Cantona, but I wondered what's the full list of results? Ashiq MARTIN SAYS: Ashiq, Manchester United's derby day defeat to City on Monday night was a real rarity, but it wasn't their first Monday defeat in the Premier League. According to our friends at Opta, it was only the third time United have lost a Monday fixture in 49 Premier League games. The last time they suffered a Monday defeat was against Southampton in January 1998, going down 1-0 to the Saints that day. The only previous loss was a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham in January 1996. In the 49 games they have played on a Monday in the Premier League, United have won 36, drawn 10 and lost three. That's a win percentage of just over 73% and a loss percentage of just 6%. Kompany's goal was the first goal they'd conceded on a Monday since a 2-2 draw at Newcastle in January 2007. They had won their last nine games on a Monday without conceding, so as I said in commentary they do like Mondays - but in the end they didn't like this one. Manchester United's Premier League results on a Monday:

28/12/1992	Coventry City	H	5-0	W
18/01/1993	Queens Park Rangers	A	3-1	W
08/02/1993	Leeds United	A	0-0	D
05/04/1993	Norwich City	A	3-1	W
12/04/1993	Coventry City	A	1-0	W
03/05/1993	Blackburn Rovers	H	3-1	W
23/08/1993	Aston Villa	A	2-1	W
04/04/1994	Oldham Athletic	H	3-2	W
22/08/1994	Nottingham Forest	A	1-1	D
26/12/1994	Chelsea	A	3-2	W
17/04/1995	Chelsea	H	0-0	D
01/05/1995	Coventry City	A	3-2	W
28/08/1995	Blackburn Rovers	A	2-1	W
27/11/1995	Nottingham Forest 1 1 A D	A	1-1	D
01/01/1996	Tottenham Hotspur	A	1-4	L
22/01/1996	West Ham United	A	1-0	W
04/03/1996	Newcastle United	A	1-0	W
08/04/1996	Coventry City	H	1-0	W
05/05/1997	Middlesbrough	H	3-3	D
15/12/1997	Aston Villa	H	1-0	W
19/01/1998	Southampton	A	0-1	L
06/04/1998	Blackburn Rovers	A	3-1	W
27/04/1998	Crystal Palace	A	3-0	W
04/05/1998	Leeds United	H	3-0	W
30/08/1999	Newcastle United	H	5-1	W
24/01/2000	Arsenal	H	1-1	D
10/04/2000	Middlesbrough	A	4-3	W
24/04/2000	Chelsea	H	3-2	W
01/01/2001	West Ham United	H	3-1	W
07/10/2002	Everton	H	3-0	W
30/08/2004	Everton	H	0-0	D
20/09/2004	Liverpool	H	2-1	W
13/12/2004	Fulham	A	1-1	D
26/12/2005	West Bromwich Albion	H	3-0	W
06/03/2006	Wigan Athletic	A	2-1	W
17/04/2006	Tottenham Hotspur	A	2-1	W
01/05/2006	Middlesbrough	H	0-0	D
01/01/2007	Newcastle United	A	2-2	D
03/12/2007	Fulham	H	2-0	W
25/08/2008	Portsmouth	A	1-0	W
29/12/2008	Middlesbrough	H	1-0	W
16/08/2010	Newcastle United	H	3-0	W
13/12/2010	Arsenal	H	1-0	W
22/08/2011	Tottenham Hotspur	H	3-0	W
26/12/2011	Wigan Athletic	H	5-0	W
26/03/2012	Fulham	H	1-0	W
02/04/2012	Blackburn Rovers	A	2-0	W
30/04/2012	Manchester City	A	0-1	L
Date	Opposition	Venue	Scoreline	Result
24/08/1992	Southampton	A	1-0	W

SHOT SHOCK
I was amazed when watching Gary Neville's post-match analysis to find out that Manchester United had no shots on target in the game. Has this ever happened before to United in the Premier League? Terry (Man Utd fan) MARTIN SAYS: We've taken this one to our friends at Opta, who have been keeping data on shots since 2003/04. In those nine seasons there have only been three occasions, including Monday night, when Man Utd have failed to have a shot on target in a Premier League game. The last time was May 16, 2009 when they drew 0-0 at home to Arsenal to mathematically wrap up that season's title. The other occasion was back on November 30, 2003 when they went to Chelsea and lost 1-0 to a Frank Lampard penalty. They went on to finish below both Chelsea and Arsenal that season. However, I would point out that they had several blocked shots that are not technically recorded as shots on target as well as two shots off target.

DIFFERENCE CLASS
With Manchester United and Manchester City level on points with two games left can you tell me how many times in English top-flight history have we seen the league decided on goal difference? I can't recall it happening in my lifetime and I'm 27! Phil Baker (Everton fan) MARTIN SAYS: Hi Phil. Although the top two teams have finished level on points on five occasions in English football history, the championship has never technically been decided on goal difference. The last time teams finished level on points was in 1989 when Arsenal famously pipped Liverpool to the title at Anfield thanks to Michael Thomas' injury-time goal. His strike ensured the Gunners won by the two goals required to finish above Liverpool after the teams finished level on points and goal difference. Technically the league was decided on "goals scored" that year. The four other times teams have finished level on points the title was decided by goal average (a case of dividing the number of goals scored by the number of goals conceded) rather than the current system of determining goal difference, which was introduced in the English Football League from 1976/77. The last time goal average decided the title was 1965 when Manchester United beat Leeds to the championship with a healthy 2.28 goal average after both teams finished the season on 61 points. In 1953 Arsenal's 1.52 goal average proved decisive after they finished level on 54 points with Preston North End. Three years earlier Portsmouth's superior average saw them take the title ahead of Wolves. In each of those incidents the title winners had superior goal differences to their rivals, as well as superior goal averages. However, in 1924 Huddersfield won the title ahead of Cardiff with the old method of determining goal average separating them, despite the teams having the same goal difference. It's also worth pointing out that in the unlikely event of United and City ending the season with an identical goal difference and an identical goals scored, it would not go down to the head-to-head record. The two sides would, in fact, play off for the title. Occasions when the top two teams in the English top flight have finished level on points:

Cardiff City	1924	61	34	27	1.79	57
Portsmouth	1950	74	38	36	1.95	53	Portsmouth win on goal average
Wolverhampton Wanderers	1950	75	49	27	1.55	53
Arsenal	1953	97	64	33	1.52	54	Arsenal win on goal average
Preston North End	1953	85	60	25	1.42	54
Manchester United	1965	89	39	50	2.28	61	Manchester United win on goal average
Leeds United	1965	83	52	31	1.60	61
Arsenal	1989	73	36	37	2.03	76	Arsenal win goals scored as goal difference was level
Liverpool	1989	65	28	37	2.32	76
Team	Season	For	Against	Goal Difference	Goal Average	Points	Notes
Huddersfield Town	1924	60	33	27	1.82	57	Huddersfield win on goal average

SHOTS TO NOTHING
Hi Martin, I heard that Blackburn didn't muster a single shot (on or off target) in their 2-0 defeat to Tottenham. How often has this happened in the Premier League era? And has there been a team that has managed a draw (or even a win - possibly due to an own goal!) without a single shot? Thanks, Arjun Kudva (Man Utd fan) MARTIN SAYS: Opta have confirmed that Blackburn did not have a single shot - on or off goal - in Sunday's game at White Hart Lane. They've been keeping records on shots since 2003/04 and in that time they are only the second team to fail to have a single shot in a Premier League game. The other team was West Brom back on December 28, 2004 when they travelled to Manchester City and did not have a single shot on or off target - and yet still managed to score a goal! Richard Dunne's 85th-minute own goal secured a remarkable 1-1 draw for the Baggies following Nicolas Anelka's first-half opener. West Brom even played for 73 minutes with 10 men after Thomas Gaardsoe's early red card. Blackburn will be hoping that's not the only similarity between themselves and the West Brom team of 2004/05. That team are the only side in Premier League history to have stayed up after being bottom of the table on Christmas Day. Rovers were bottom last Christmas - and will be hoping to repeat the trick this season against all odds.

WAIT FOR AGES... THREE COME ALONG AT ONCE
Hi, Martin as far as I can recall Luis Suarez's hat-trick against Norwich was Liverpool's first since the season before last where Fernando Torres put in three against West Ham. My question is which Premier League side has gone the longest since a player has scored a hat-trick for them. My guess would be Wigan. Ben Adepoju (Liverpool fan) MARTIN SAYS: A good question, but you're wrong about Liverpool's last hat-trick in the Premier League. Before Luis Suarez you only have to go back a few weeks to the Merseyside derby when Steven Gerrard put three past Everton! They also scored three last season; Maxi Rodriguez scored two (against Birmingham and Fulham), while Dirk Kuyt got one against Manchester United. So hat-tricks have been in plentiful supply for Liverpool, but that's not the case with Stoke, Swansea and Wolves - the three current clubs who have never registered a hat-trick in the Premier League. A further nine clubs have played in the Premier League and not scored a hat-trick, those clubs being: Barnsley, Blackpool, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Derby, Hull, Oldham, Reading and Watford. However, of the 33 clubs that HAVE scored Premier League hat-tricks, Sheffield United are in the middle of the longest wait. Their last Premier League treble was scored in the very first Premier League season by Brian Deane on March 16, 1993. Of the current Premier League clubs, it's Norwich City who have been waiting the longest for a top-flight treble. The last hat-trick by a Canaries player came from Efan Ekoku on September 25, 1993 against Everton. Of the ever-present Premier League clubs, Aston Villa have been waiting the longest. Their last hat-trick came from Gabriel Agbonlahor on the first day of the 2008/09 season against Manchester City. Thanks to Opta, here are the most recent Premier League hat-tricks, by club (correct as of 02/05/2012):

17/08/2008	Aston Villa	Gabriel Agbonlahor	Manchester City	1354
01/03/2008	Birmingham	Mikael Forssell	Tottenham	1523
03/12/2011	Blackburn	Yakubu	Swansea	151
06/04/2002	Bolton	Fredi Bobic	Ipswich	3679
21/04/2000	Bradford	Dean Windass	Derby	4394
28/09/2003	Charlton	Kevin Lisbie	Liverpool	3139
29/04/2012	Chelsea	Fernando Torres	Queens Park Rangers	3
09/01/1999	Coventry	Darren Huckerby	Nottingham Forest	4862
05/02/2011	Everton	Louis Saha	Blackpool	452
04/03/2012	Fulham	Pavel Pogrebnyak	Wolves	59
02/04/2001	Ipswich	Marcus Stewart	Southampton	4048
05/04/2003	Leeds	Mark Viduka	Charlton Athletic	3315
05/03/2000	Leicester City	Stan Collymore	Sunderland	4441
28/04/2012	Liverpool	Luis Suarez	Norwich	4
14/04/2012	Manchester City	Carlos Tevez	Norwich	18
26/12/2011	Manchester United	Dimitar Berbatov	Wigan	128
11/05/2008	Middlesbrough	Alfonso Alves	Manchester City	1452
31/10/2011	Newcastle	Demba Ba	Stoke	184
25/09/1993	Norwich	Efan Ekoku	Everton	6794
17/08/1996	Nottingham Forest	Kevin Campbell	Coventry	5737
31/10/2009	Portsmouth	Aruna Dindane	Wigan	914
20/11/1993	Queens Park Rangers	Bradley Allen	Everton	6738
16/01/1993	Sheffield United	Brian Deane	Ipswich	7046
08/11/1997	Sheffield Wednesday	Andy Booth	Bolton	5289
27/10/2002	Southampton	James Beattie	Fulham	3475
09/03/2010	Sunderland	Darren Bent	Bolton	785
05/02/1994	Swindon	Jan-Aage Fjortoft	Coventry	6661
22/11/2009	Tottenham	Jermain Defoe	Wigan	892
12/02/2012	West Brom	Peter Odemwingie	Wolves	80
12/09/2005	West Ham	Marlon Harewood	Aston Villa	2424
Date	Team	Scorer	Opposition	Days ago
04/02/2012	Arsenal	Robin van Persie	Blackburn	88

Tyler's teaser

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