Yossi walks alone

What makes Yossi Benayoun unique, City's starts and Spurs against the big boys... it's Martin Tyler's stats!

Benayoun's feat, flying starts, Spurs, City and another teaser

Martin Tyler's stats and facts column is back for the new season. Every week he will be here to offer you statistical gems to make your day, impress your mates and, on occasion, to 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 here and he will do his best to help.

Tyler's starting stat

I was at Craven Cottage on Sunday to see Fulham squeeze past Everton to continue an impressive sequence that has seen them win eight of the last nine home Premier League games against the Toffees. The only game they didn't win in that run was the last day of last season when Leon Osman got both in a 2-0 away win. As for Sunday's scorers, we should've guessed them really, because Paul Konchesky's first league goal also came against Everton, as a Charlton player back in December 2001. That was only his second Fulham goal and first at Craven Cottage, his other one coming against former club West Ham in January last year - also live in front of the Sky Sports cameras. As for Damien Duff, his first senior goal came against Everton, for Blackburn back in November 1997, but he also scored against them for Newcastle in October 2008, in Joe Kinnear's first game in charge - another match live on Sky Sports. As for Everton's scorer, that was actually Tim Cahill's first goal in 13 games in all competitions since Villa away on April 12 and his first against the Cottagers in 11 games. YOSSI BENAY-ONE
Hello and greetings from Iceland, I am watching the Icelandic Cup, semi-final, between Fram and KR! Yossi Benayoun scored a hat-trick against Burnley last Saturday. He has now managed to score a hat-trick in a Premier League and Champions League game and also in a game in the FA Cup. In a flash, I don't remember another player who has managed to do this, maybe Ruud van Nistelerooy, but can't remember a FA cup hat-trick. Can you answer me, dear Mr Tyler? Has anyone beside then Benayoun managed this? Thanks in advance, Sigurbaldur P Frímannsson
MARTIN SAYS: Greetings to Iceland from England, Sigurbaldur - it's always nice to receive a question from foreign fields. It's a very good question and I have to say, well worth asking, because you are right! We have sifted through the record books and as far as we can tell, Yossi Benayoun is the only player to have scored hat-tricks in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. There are of course plenty of players to have done it in the Premier League and Champions League, such as Andy Cole, Michael Owen, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer, Didier Drogba, Yakubu and as you say, Ruud van Nistelrooy, but none of those has managed an FA Cup hat-trick. Of course, players play less games in that famous old competition, even without the Premier League penchant for resting their big players, so maybe it is not that surprising. For the record, the closest we could find was Michael Owen, who has Champions League and Premier League trebles to his name, but only managed to get another one in the League Cup for Liverpool. Of course, it wouldn't be a proper stats column if at this stage I didn't mention Robert Earnshaw, who stands alone having scored hat-tricks in the Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two, FA Cup, League Cup and as an international for Wales. So as unique as his achievement may be, Yossi still has some way to go to match that! FOUR-GONE CONCLUSION
Dear Martin, while I wasn't surprised to see Spurs lose to Manchester United, I heard someone saying that if you win your first four games you are certs to finish in the top four? Is this just a myth someone has made up, or is it actually true? Ian Haslett
MARTIN SAYS: Well Ian, it is not exactly a myth but it is indeed a rarity that a side winning its first four league games of the season does not finish in that coveted top four. In fact, in 17 seasons of Premier League football - this being the 18th - it has only happened three times. The last side to do it were Charlton in the 2005/06 season; they beat Sunderland (3-1 away), Wigan (1-0 home), Middlesbrough (3-0 away) and Birmingham (1-0 away), but only won another nine games and went on to finish the season in 13th position. Before that, in 1996/97 Sheffield Wednesday beat Aston Villa (2-1 home), Leeds (2-0 away), Newcastle (2-1 away) and Leicester (2-1 home) only to come a cropper - as Charlton did funnily enough - against Chelsea in their fifth game. The Owls went on to finish seventh. Two years before that in 1994/95, Newcastle beat Leicester (3-1 away), Coventry (4-0 home), Southampton (5-1 home) and West Ham (3-1 away). Amazingly, they too met Chelsea in their fifth league game of the season, but unlike the other two, won that (4-2 home) to make it five straight wins from the start. Sadly, it didn't secure a top-four finish and they ended up sixth. FOUR-LORN CONCLUSION
Hi Martin, love the column. As a Tottenham fan I'm fearing the worst going to Chelsea this weekend. I can't remember the last time we went to one of the big boys and actually won. I know our record under Harry has improved but is there any hope heading for Stamford Bridge. Anthony Grey
MARTIN SAYS: Another Spurs fan looking for some solace, eh Anthony? Well, there's not much on offer when it comes to your record against the so-called big four, as you rightly suspect. Sunday's trip to Stamford Bridge in itself holds plenty of fear because Spurs have never won there in the Premier League. In fact, they have lost 12 and drawn 15 of their previous 17 visits, although they did manage one of those draws last season. Away from home against the others, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool, Tottenham's record is even worse, I'm afraid! Spurs have not won any of their last 63 Premier League away games against that quarter, losing 43 and drawing 20. The last time they picked up maximum points on the road against one of those sides was way back in August 1993, when two Teddy Sheringham goals gave Ossie Ardiles' side a 2-1 win at Anfield. In their last 58 league meetings with the 'big four', either home or away, they have won five, all of which have come at White Hart Lane; they have beaten Chelsea twice (November 2006 and March 2009) and Liverpool three times (January 2004, November 2008 and August 2009). If I can offer any hope ahead of Sunday Anthony, it's that these runs are there to be broken! CITY FOR STARTERS
Hi Martin, I'm a Manchester City fan and can't wait for the derby on Sunday after our brilliant start to the season. I'm convinced if we beat United we will have had our best start to a Premier League season, is that right? Cheers, Ricky Thompson
MARTIN SAYS: Well Ricky you'll be pleased to know that Manchester City are already enjoying their best start to a Premier League season ever in terms of points. Saturday's win against Arsenal was Mark Hughes' side's fourth in a row, eclipsing their previous best of three in 2007/2008. Back then they beat West Ham (2-0 away) and Derby (1-0 home) before edging out United 1-0. City's record unbeaten start to a Premier League season occurred in 2005/2006 when they won three and drew two of their opening five matches. Then they drew with West Brom (0-0 home), beat Birmingham (2-1 away), Sunderland (2-1 away) and Portsmouth (2-1 home) before making it five games unbeaten with a 1-1 draw against, you've guessed it, United! You probably don't need me to remind you that Joey Barton scored the equaliser. Bringing things up to date, should City avoid defeat on Sunday, they will equal that record. NATIONAL PLEASURE
Martin, I think all the team coaches for the last six World Cup winners were natives for the country they are coaching, is that so for all the World Cup tournaments since the start, and do you think that have any effect on the chance of England winning the World Cup next year? Anonymous (via email)
MARTIN SAYS: Following on from last week, this is a very good question - it's just a shame that you didn't leave your name! Whoever you are your suspicions are correct. Every World Cup winning manager has been born in the country they have coached to victory. In fact should Fabio Capello take England to the World Cup final he would become just the fourth manager to reach the final coaching a country he was not born in. Contrary to popular belief Sir Alf Ramsey was not the first English manager to reach the World Cup final. That honour goes to George Raynor of Wombwell, South Yorkshire, who led Sweden to the 1958 World Cup final where his side lost 5-2 to Brazil. Raynor had previously taken Sweden to third place in the 1950 World Cup. The second 'non-native' manager to reach the World Cup final was Vienna-born Rudolf Vytlacil who guided Czechoslovakia to the 1962 final. The most recent member of the trio was another Austrian. Ernst Happel took Holland to the 1978 final, only to lose to Argentina.

Tyler's Teaser

LAST WEEK
I asked you to name the 17 players, who have PLAYED in four final tournaments (not just being named in four different squads). Well done to those of you that took the time to answer last week's teaser, particularly Alan Hiscutt, Ali Mohamed, Steve Dack, Zahid Ali, and Frode Kippe who all got Antonio Carbajal and Lothar Matthaus as the two men to have played in five finals. For the record, here are the others who have played in four. Cafu (1994, 98, 02, 06), Sami Al-Jaber (1994, 98, 02, 06), Paolo Maldini (1990, 94, 98, 02), Enzo Scifo (1986, 90, 94, 98), Franky Van Der Elst (1986, 90, 94, 98), Andoni Zubizarreta (1986, 90, 94, 98), Hong Myung-Bo (1990, 94, 98, 02), Diego Maradona (1982, 86, 90, 94), Giuseppe Bergomi (1982, 86, 90, 98), Wladyslaw Zmuda (1974, 78, 82, 86), Pedro Rocha (1962, 66, 70, 74), Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (1958, 62, 66, 70), Uwe Seeler (1958, 62, 66, 70), Djalma Santos (1954, 58, 62, 66), Pelé (1958, 62, 66, 70). THIS WEEK
With this weekend bringing the first Manchester derby of the season, what better place than to pluck this week's teaser? I have been thumbing through the record books to come up with a toughie and in a slight change, am going to ask for a more specific answer. Although Carlos Tevez's transfer was not viewed as directly from United to City, he is just one of many players to have moved between the two clubs. But what I want to know is: what is the record transfer fee paid between the clubs and for who? I'll give you a clue and tell you he was Welsh!