Shearer goals pave way for Blackburn to win title

The third season of Premier League football, 1994-95, saw Blackburn Rovers wrest the crown from the hands of Manchester United to thwart them from a hat-trick of titles.

The conservatives at the Premier League finally decided to trim the top flight from 22 to 20 and ease the burden of a long fixtures list on clubs.

Hence, in 1994-95 four clubs were relegated (Crystal Palace, Norwich City, Leicester City and Ipswich Town) and only two gained promotion (Middlesbrough and Bolton Wanderers).

Blackburn's multi-millionaire chairman Jack Walker saw his dream come true as his beloved Rovers were crowned 'champions of England'.

The Rovers, who had not won a trophy since 1928, managed to bridge an 81-year gap and bring the shining silverware to Ewood Park.

Walker watched his favourites play at an extensively rebuilt stadium capable of holding 30,000 seated spectators.

When he took over, the Rovers were struggling against relegation to the old Division Three. Walker then paid out club record fees to strengthen the side, including the British record for the capture of strikers Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton.

The S-S striking force netted a total of 49 league goals (Shearer 34, Sutton 15) between them in that triumphant season.

Other aces in Kenny Dalglish's pack were goalkeeper Tim Flowers and midfielder and captain Tim Sherwood.

Dalglish became the third manager in the history of the game to win the league title with different clubs, Liverpool and Blackburn.

Yet, although Blackburn were top of the table for almost the whole season, at the finish they were separated from Manchester United by a mere point.

Had the Red Devils won at West Ham in the last fixture (only managed a draw) they would have beaten Rovers to the crown. Blackburn lost at ex-Dalglish's club Liverpool on the last day.

Promoted club Nottingham Forest managed to finish third and earn a UEFA Cup berth.

Top scorers

34 Alan Shearer (Blackburn)
25 Robbie Fowler (Liverpool)
24 Les Ferdinand (QPR)
22 Stan Collymore (N. Forest)
21 Andy Cole (Man. United), Juergen Klinsmann (Tottenham)

Transfers

Arsenal: John Hartson from Luton; Alan Miller to Middlesbrough.

Aston Villa: John Fashanu from Wimbledon, Tommy Johnson from Derby; Tony Daley to Wolves.

Blackburn Rovers: Jeff Kenna from Southampton; David May to Manchester United.

Chelsea: Scott Minto from Charlton, David Rocastle from Man. City; Neil Shipperley to Southampton.

Coventry: Dion Dublin from Man. United; Phil Babb to Liverpool.

Crystal Palace: Iain Dowie from Southampton; David Whyte to Charlton.

Everton: Daniel Amokachi from Bruges, Duncan Ferguson from Rangers; Tony Cottee to West Ham.

Ipswich Town: Steve Sedgley from Tottenham; Chris Kiwomya to Arsenal.

Leeds: Anthony Yeboah from Eintracht Frankfurt; Jon Newsome to Norwich.

Leicester City: Mark Draper from Notts County; Steve Agnew to Sunderland.

Liverpool: John Scales from Wimbledon, Mark Kennedy from Millwall; Don Hutchinson to West Ham.

Manchester City: Nicky Summerbee from Swindon; Mike Sheron to Norwich.

Manchester United: Andy Cole from Newcastle; Keith Gillespie to Newcastle, Mike Phelan to WBA.

Newcastle: Philippe Albert from Anderlecht, Paul Kitson from Derby; Alex Mathie to Ipswich.

Norwich: Ashley Ward from Crewe; Mark Robins to Leicester.

Nottingham Forest: Bryan Roy from Foggia; Lee Glover to Port Vale.

Queens Park Rangers: Steve Hodge from Leeds; Brian Law to Wolves.

Sheffield Wednesday: Klas Ingesson from PSV, Ian Taylor from Port Vale; Carlton Palmer to Leeds.

Southampton: Bruce Grobbelaar from Liverpool; Nicky Banger to Oldham.

Tottenham: Ilie Dumitrescu from Steaua Bucharest, Juergen Klinsmann from Monaco; Vinny Samways to Everton.

West Ham: John Moncur from Swindon; David Burrows to Everton.

Wimbledon: Jon Goodman from Millwall; Paul Miller to Bristol Rovers.

Other statistics

• Peter Schmeichel underlined his reputation as one of the world's best goalkeepers by conceding only four goals in 18 league matches at Old Trafford.

• Alan Shearer claimed three hat-tricks for Blackburn throughout the campaign.

• Andy Cole netted five goals in one match for Man. United in the 9-0 massacre of Ipswich at home.

• Newcastle's Kevin Keegan won the managerial monthly award twice.

• The scoring tandem of Shearer and Sutton combined to perfection in November and they shared the player's monthly prize.

• Everton had landed two awards in the campaign by Duncan Ferguson (February) and David Unsworth (April).

• Champions Blackburn finished with most doubles after obtaining home and away league wins against nine clubs. Manchester United followed with seven.

Leicester had seven players dismissed during the season. Leeds and Southampton were proud to show no sendings-off.

Individual awards

Writers Footballer of the Year - Juergen Klinsmann (Tottenham).

PFA Player of the Year - Alan Shearer (Blackburn).

PFA Young Player of the Year - Robbie Fowler (Liverpool).

Manager of the Year - Ken Dalglish (Blackburn).

Managers' Association Boss of the Year - Frank Clark (N. Forest).

Seven Premiership managers were dismissed throughout the campaign, including Arsenal's George Graham.