The first “Premier London derbies” (PLDs) season is over at last and likely to be the longest debut in soccer history! It eventually ended on Sunday 26 July 2020 having begun back on Saturday 24 August 2019 when Watford lost 1-3 at home to West Ham United. Watfordwere also playing in the final round of PLDs matches fighting for their F.A. Premier League (FAPL) lives at an empty Emirates Stadium against Arsenal. The Gunners scored 3 first-half goals (Aubameyang 5 (penalty) and 33, and Tierney 24 minutes) to 1 by the Hornets through a Troy Deeney penalty on 43 minutes. Despite more pressure from Watford, and a second goal (Danny Welbeck on 66), it was not enough and their 5 years’ run in the FAPL has come to an end. Hayden Mullins again took charge, but would he or anyone want that hot seat?
In South London Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 in the other final day PLDs match. It was joy for both sides, the Eagles because they avoided setting a new FAPL record of 8 successive defeats, and Spurs because their 1 point gave them 6th place on 59 points and a Europa League place ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers who lost at Stamford Bridge to Chelsea. Harry Kane (13 minutes) opened the scoring for Spurs with his 7th goal in 9 games, but after Jeffrey Schlupp equalized on 53 minutes Jose Mourinho parked the white and blue bus from N17. Scott Dann almost spoiled the party but his late header went over.
These matches completed not only the FAPL but also the 2019-20 PLDs season thus:
Club. Won. Drawn. Lost. G.F. G.A. G.D. Points.
Chelsea 3 h/4 a 1 h 1 h/1 a 20 11 +9 22
Tottenham Hotspur 3 h/1 a 1 h/3 a 1 h/1 a 16 11 +5 16
Arsenal 2 h/1 a 2 h/3 a 1 h/1 a 18 16 +2 14
Crystal Palace 2 h/1 a 2 h/2 a 1 h/2 a 11 15 -4 13
West Ham United 2 h/2 a 0 h/0 a 3 h/3 a 15 17 -2 12
Watford 0 h/0 a 3 h/1 a 2 h/4 a 8 18 -10 4
So there we are, Chelsea top the table again, with 22 points from 7 wins, 4 of them away and a home draw, and are top scorers. They beat Spurs by the 6 points they took from them home and away.
But its not all over yet for London Derbies since Chelsea and Arsenal meet again on Saturday 1 August in the F.A Cup Final at an empty Wembley Stadium. And then its Brentford versus Fulham in the EFL (Sky Bet) Championship play off Final on Tuesday 4 August! So there will be 6 Clubs in the PLDs mini- league next season, and will it be the Bees for the first time ever?
Until September, when we start again, stay alert and best wishes from Andrew at PLDs.