 In his first 18 months in charge, Atkinson bought Earl Barrett, Dean Saunders, Andy Townsend, Dalian Atkinson, Kevin Richardson, Ray Houghton and Shaun Teale.They helped the club to finish as runners-up to Manchester United in the inaugural Premier League season of 1992–93.The strike partnership of Saunders and Atkinson established itself as one of the most successful partnerships in the Premiership.