Blogs & Opinion


Martin Tyler:

Most Popular Posts:

Recent Comments:

Tom W on Will Blues blow it?

"Martin. Arsenal beat Birmingham 3-1 earlier in the season so in your hypothesis Arsenal would be champions on goals scored only.... " View all comments

Anthony Carlin on Calendar goals

"i find it really funny that rooney has more goals than defoe well 1 more. saying the fact defoe has missed alot more games this decade than rooney, has'nt started as many and dosn take ... " View all comments

Manchester matters

Martin brings you a tricky teaser. Can you get the answer?

Martin Tyler Posted 25th April 2012 view comments

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.

Man Utd v Everton: Martin has plenty of stats from their 4-4 draw

Man Utd v Everton: Martin has plenty of stats from their 4-4 draw

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 - Molineux misery for Wolves

I was at Molineux on Sunday to see Wolves relegated from the top division for the seventh time, as they suffered their ninth consecutive home Premier League defeat (and 10th in all competitions) at the hands of Manchester City. They have lost 15 times at home in 2011/12, winning only one of their last 21 Premier League games, taking nine points out of 63 and only two points from their last 11 league games - away at Newcastle and Sunderland. This came after they won their opening two matches and were briefly top in August. Since then they've won just three of their 33 fixtures.

There were some nice round figures during the game: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake made his 200th league career appearance, Joleon Lescott made his 100th Man City appearance, Nigel De Jong reached 100 Premier League appearances and Pablo Zabaleta made his150th Man City appearance;100 of those in the Premier League.

Sergio Aguero's scored his 22nd league goal and is one behind Carlos Tevez's best ever Premier League total for a Man City player. It was the fourth time Aguero and Tevez have started together in the Premier League and they have scored 12 goals between them in those four games (eight from Aguero).

City have still only conceded six first-half goals this season. That was equal with Man Utd but Nikica Jelavic became the seventh to score against Man Utd in the opening 45 minutes of a game. That leads us nicely to our first question...

GOING FOUR MAN UTD
As a proud Everton fan, I'd like to know how many sides have scored four goals against Manchester United the Premier League era? I can't imagine it would be very many, especially at Old Trafford? Thanks, Alistair (Everton fan)

MARTIN SAYS: Only 11 teams have hit four goals (or more) against Manchester United in the 769 games they have played in the Premier League to date - and only three have done so at Old Trafford.

Tottenham were the first team to put four Premier League goals past Man United on New Year's Day 1996 with a 4-1 win at White Hart Lane and six further teams, including Everton on Sunday have hit exactly four goals against them.

We've seen two teams put five past Sir Alex Ferguson's men - Newcastle beat them 5-0 at St James' Park in October 1996 and Chelsea won by the same scoreline at Stamford Bridge in 1999. I was there on both occasions.

We have also famously seen them concede six twice - a shock 6-3 defeat at Southampton in October 1996 and this season's famous 6-1 thrashing by Manchester City at Old Trafford. Indeed, City are one of two teams to have put four past United twice (having also beaten them 4-1 in March 2004). The other is Newcastle (5-0 in October 1996 and 4-3 in September 2001)

United have conceded four at home twice this season - to City and Everton. Before the start of this campaign they had only conceded four goals once in a Premier League home game - a 4-1 loss to Liverpool in March 2009.

The first eight times Man United conceded four or more in the Premier League were in away games. The last three occasions have all been at home. Plus, as you'll notice from the table below. Everton have become the first side to score four against Man United and not win the game!

22/04/2012Everton44AD
DateTeamForAgainstVenueResult
01/01/1996Tottenham Hotspur41HW
20/1019/96Newcastle United50HW
26/10/1996Southampton63HW
03/10/1999Chelsea50HW
15/09/2001Newcastle United43HW
14/03/2004Manchester City41HW
29/10/2005Middlesbrough41HW
01/02/2006Blackburn Rovers43HW
14/03/2009Liverpool41AW
23/10/2011Manchester City61AW

NOT ENOUGH FOUR FERGIE
Hi Martin, brilliant column as usual. In light of Manchester United's draw with Everton, have United ever scored four goals at Old Trafford and NOT won, since the Premier League's inception? Steven Ellerbeck (Manchester City fan)

MARTIN SAYS: Our friends at Opta have a very simple answer to this one for you. Sunday's game was the first time in the Premier League era that Manchester United have scored four goals in a game and failed to win.

In fact, the last time that they scored 4+ in a league game and didn't win before last weekend was on December 7, 1974 - when they drew 4-4 away at Sheffield Wednesday. A bit like with Wayne Rooney, Lou Macari scored twice but it wasn't enough to secure the three points. United's other scorers that day were Stewart Houston and Stuart Pearson.

The scorers for Sheffield Wednesday that day were David Sunley (2), Bernard Shaw and Colin Harvey. Incredibly, after scoring four goals in that game Sheffield Wednesday only managed five more in the remaining 21 games of that season! One of those goals was by Eric Potts in a 1-0 win at Southampton on December 28 and was the first goal I ever commentated on for television!

In fact, that was their only win in the rest of that season. In their following 17 games Sheffield Wednesday drew three and lost 14 and finished bottom of Division Two. I always tell people that after my first game on December 28 the winners didn't win another game all season! They only scored two goals in those 17 games too!

FOUR GOALS... BUT NOT THREE POINTS
Hello Martin, big fan here! Make it a point to read your column every week. Being a die-hard Man Utd fan, I was absolutely gutted to watch them let slip a two-goal lead this weekend. Could you tell me what is the record for most goals scored by any side in a Premier League game without getting the win? I would put my money on 4 because I can recall many instances where teams have scored 4 and yet have drawn or lost, like Arsenal 4-4 Spurs, that unforgettable Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal, Portsmouth 7-4 Reading and the recent Man Utd 4-4 Everton. Cheers! Anup Madhava Kumar (Manchester United fanatic)

MARTIN SAYS: The answer is indeed four. According to Opta, no side in the history of the Premier League has scored five goals and failed to win a game.

Sunday's game was the 13th 4-4 draw we have seen in the Premier League and therefore there are 26 teams in this list who have scored four goals and failed to win. Man United and Everton have joined this list for the first time.

22/02/1995: Aston Villa 4-4 Leicester City
24/10/1999: Everton 4-4 Leeds
21/04/2000: Bradford 4-4 Derby
19/11/2001: Charlton 4-4 West Ham
22/02/2004: Tottenham 4-4 Leicester
22/01/2005: Norwich 4-4 Middlesbrough
01/10/2007: Tottenham 4-4 Aston Villa
26/12/2007: Chelsea 4-4 Aston Villa
19/03/2008: Tottenham 4-4 Chelsea
29/10/2008: Arsenal 4-4 Tottenham
21/04/2009: Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal
05/02/2011: Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal
22/04/2012: Man Utd 4-4 Everton

We have also seen five teams lose Premier League games after scoring four goals - including Reading twice!

09/04/1994: Norwich 4-5 Southampton
12/02/2000: West Ham 5-4 Bradford
13/11/2004: Tottenham 4-5 Arsenal
29/09/2007: Portsmouth 7-4 Reading
29/12/2009: Tottenham 6-4 Reading

As an aside, if you look back to 1922 you can find evidence of a team scoring seven goals in an FA Cup match and still losing. St. Albans lost 8-7 against Dulwich in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup - and one player, Billy Minter, scored seven goals yet still ended up on the losing side!

UP TWO MAN U
Dear Martin. After the amazing game between Manchester United and Everton at the weekend I came up with a question for your column. How many times have Man United been two goals ahead in the Premier League and not won the game? Andy (Liverpool fan)

MARTIN SAYS: Everton became only the 10th side to claw back a two-goal (or more) lead against Manchester United and take a draw - and the third to do so at Old Trafford after West Brom in October 2010 and Chelsea in September 2003. However, it wasn't the first time they have denied United in this fashion, as they came back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 at Goodison Park with two injury-time goals last season.

Manchester United have never lost a Premier League game having led by two goals, but they have drawn once after being three goals ahead. That was at Anfield in January 1994 when they took a 3-0 lead against Liverpool through Denis Irwin, Steve Bruce and Ryan Giggs, only to be pegged back by a Nigel Clough brace and one from Neil Ruddock. An early Sky Sports classic!

However, as you'll see from the table below, Man Utd have never lost after leading a game by two goals.

Teams to have come back from two-goals or more to get a result in the Premier League against Man Utd:

22/04/2012Manchester UnitedEverton44H2
DateTeamOpponentForAgainstVenueMax Goals Ahead
04/01/1994Manchester UnitedLiverpool33A3
08/12/1996Manchester UnitedWest Ham United22A2
12/12/1998Manchester UnitedTottenham Hotspur22A2
05/05/1999Manchester UnitedLiverpool22A2
26/08/2000Manchester UnitedWest Ham United22A2
23/09/2000Manchester UnitedChelsea33H2
09/12/2000Manchester UnitedCharlton Athletic33A2
11/09/2010Manchester UnitedEverton33A2
16/10/2010Manchester UnitedWest Bromwich Albion22H2

MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
Hi Martin. Thanks again for a great column and clearing up all those disputes and nagging questions! Here's one re goal difference. It's highly likely Man City could finish with the best goal difference yet still only end up with a runner's-up medal this season - how many times has this happened before, whereby the team with the best goal difference haven't finished as the Premier League champions? Thanks again and best regards, Neil Ibbitson

MARTIN SAYS: Manchester City would certainly not be the first team to endure the frustration of finishing second in the Premier League to a team that has a worse goal difference. It's happened on five previous occasions - all involving Manchester United.

In 1995, United had an eight-goal superior difference to Blackburn but one fewer point than the champions that year.

Two seasons later United finished with a goal difference of 32 compared to Newcastle's 33 but Sir Alex Ferguson's team had five more points on the board.

The following year United were second to Arsenal despite a whopping 12-goal superior goal difference to the eventual champions. However the table was reversed in 2003 when United won the league with runners-up Arsenal on a better goal difference.

The last time such an anomaly has occurred was in 2009 when Liverpool finished second to United, who took the title despite an inferior goal-difference to their great rivals.

The team with the best goal difference has finished in the top two in each Premier League season. However, a good goal difference doesn't necessarily equate to success. Norwich finished third in 1993 with a goal difference of -4, the highest a team has finished on a negative tally, while Everton secured a Champions League place in 2005 with a -1 goal difference.

1993/94Manchester United42Champions
1994/95Manchester United49Second
1995/96Manchester United38Champions
1996/97Newcastle33Second
1997/98Manchester United47Second
1998/99Manchester United43Champions
1999/2000Manchester United52Champions
2000/01Manchester United48Champions
2001/02Arsenal43Champions
2002/03Arsenal43Second
2003/04Arsenal47Champions
2004/05Chelsea57Champions
2005/06Chelsea50Champions
2006/07Manchester United56Champions
2007/08Manchester United58Champions
2008/09Liverpool50Second
2009/10Chelsea71Champions
2010/11Manchester United39Champions
Premier League seasonTop goal-differenceGoal differencePlace
1992/93Manchester United36Champions

REF WATCH
Hi Martin. With Andre Marriner the referee for the big Manchester derby next Monday is there any chance you could compare the results both teams have had when Andre has been refereeing the game. I think he was the referee for the match last season that Man Utd won with Rooney's bicycle kick. Many thanks. Kevin Riordan (Manchester Utd fan)

MARTIN SAYS: We've asked Opta to take a look at the Manchester United and Manchester City games that Andre Mariner has officiated in the last three seasons.

He has taken charge of seven City games, of which they have won four, drawn one and lost two - including that derby defeat you referred to last season. He has only sent off one Manchester City player in that time - Aleksandar Kolarov in the 1-0 defeat to Bolton in December 2010. This will be the first City game he has taken charge of this season.

Andre Marriner in charge of Man City games since 2009/10:

DateOpponentVenueGoals forGoals againstResultYellowRedOpposition yellowOpposition red
19/12/2009Sunderland Etihad Stadium 43W2021
16/01/2010Everton Goodison Park 02L0000
14/08/2010Tottenham Hotspur White Hart Lane 00D2000
25/09/2010Chelsea Etihad Stadium 10W2030
04/12/2010Bolton Wanderers Etihad Stadium 10W2120
12/02/2011Manchester United Old Trafford 12L2020
25/04/2011Blackburn Rovers Ewood Park 10W3020

He has refereed nine Manchester United games in the same period with Sir Alex Ferguson's men winning seven, drawing one and losing one (to Liverpool at Anfield in 2009). He has sent off three United players in those nine games (Paul Scholes at Tottenham in September 2009, Nemanja Vidic - as well as Javier Mascherano - at Liverpool in October 2009 and Jonny Evans against Bolton last March). He has taken charge of three United games this term, all away games and they've lost none of them - a 5-0 win at Bolton, a 1-1 draw at Liverpool and a 2-1 success at Norwich.

Andre Marriner in charge of Man Utd games since 2009/10:

26/02/2012Norwich City Carrow Road 21W2010
DateOpponentVenueGoals forGoals againstResultYellowsRedsOpposition yellowOpposition reds
12/09/2009Tottenham Hotspur White Hart Lane 31W1130
25/10/2009Liverpool Anfield 02L2111
24/04/2010Tottenham Hotspur Old Trafford 31W1000
24/10/2010Stoke City Britannia Stadium 21W2020
12/02/2011Manchester City Old Trafford 21W2020
19/03/2011Bolton Wanderers Old Trafford 10W0100
10/09/2011Bolton Wanderers Reebok Stadium 50W0020
15/10/2011Liverpool Anfield 11D3010

Tyler's teaser

Fill in your answers to Martin's teaser using the feedback form below - and keep those questions coming in!

back to top

Other Football Experts:

Latest Posts in Football:

Chris Kamara

A fantastic finale

Kammy blogs on the final day drama, retiring legends and why Gareth Bale should stay at Spurs....

1 comments

Jamie Redknapp

Break bank for Bale

Jamie Redknapp has challenged Tottenham to change their mentality and keep hold of Gareth Bale....

0 comments

Latest News RSS feeds

Real to reveal Jose departure

Real Madrid will allow Jose Mourinho to leave at the end of the season as speculation grows about his return to Chelsea.

Moyes begins work at United

David Moyes has travelled to Manchester United's training ground ahead of officially taking over as manager of the club.

Juventus admit Tevez interest

Italian champions Juventus have admitted their interest in Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez.

Di Canio criticises Bardsley

Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has hit out at Phil Bardsley over his late-night antics in a casino.

Live transfer updates

Follow our transfer clockwatch for the latest news and speculation ahead of the summer window opening.

Features

Wilshere on England

Wilshere on England

Jack Wilshere spoke to Sky Sports to give us the lowdown on England's World Cup qualifying bid.

Goal of the Week

Goal of the Week

We have searched the globe to find the best goals. Watch the video and then vote for your pick...

Enjoy the best moments of the Champions League final from any angle with Sky Sports for iPad

Enjoy the best moments of the Champions League final from any angle with Sky Sports for iPad

This Saturday sees Wembley go German as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund contest the Champions League final, and you can enjoy the best moments from any angle with Sky Sports for iPad.