to go top of the league. Tony Cottee scores a hat-trick for West Ham United in their 3–0 home league win over Manchester City. 18 December 1994 – John Lyall resigns after four-and-a-half years in charge of Ipswich Town, who are currently bottom of the Premier League. 19 December 1994 – Former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness denies allegations that he received a £30,000 illegal payment in connection with a player transfer. 21 December 1994 – Brian Little's rebuilding of Aston Villa begins when he signs midfielder Ian Taylor from Sheffield Wednesday, with striker Guy Whittingham moving in the opposite direction in a deal worth £1 million. 26 December 1994 – Boxing Day drama in the Premier League sees Blackburn stay on top by beating Manchester City 3–1 at Maine Road, while Manchester United keep up the pressure with a thrilling 3–2 away win over Chelsea. 28 December 1994 – Ipswich Town appoint their former player George Burley as their new manager. Burley, 38, had recently quit Colchester United and without a proven track record he was perhaps a surprise candidate for the job. Manchester United are held to a surprise 1–1 home draw by struggling Leicester City, preventing them from going top of the Premier League after Blackburn's fixture was cancelled due to bad weather. 31 December 1994: 1994 draws to a close with Blackburn Rovers still top and now with a three-point lead over Manchester United as well as a game in hand. Liverpool and Nottingham Forest are still in distant contention while a resurgent Tottenham Hotspur are now putting pressure on the top five, while Leeds United and Manchester City's challenges are practically dead and buried as they have slid down the table considerably. Norwich City, meanwhile, finish 1994 in seventh place as manager John Deehan looks set to defy the critics who felt he could never successfully replace Mike Walker and mount a challenge for another European place. The month-end bottom four of Everton, Aston Villa, Ipswich Town and Leicester City remain unchanged from last month. Middlesbrough continue to lead the Division One promotion race, now five points ahead of their nearest rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers. Tranmere Rovers, Reading and Sheffield United complete the top five, while the change of manager at Swindon Town has made little difference to their league form (though they continue to progress well in the League Cup) as they are only outside the