1986–87 Manchester United F.C. season

English football club season November 2022 March 2015 March 2015 Manchester United 1986–87 Ron Atkinson(until 4 November)Alex Ferguson(from 6 November) Martin Edwards First Division 11th FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Third round Peter Davenport (14) Peter Davenport (16) 54,294 vs Manchester City (10 January 1987) 18,906 vs Port Vale (24 September 1986) 40,626 _manutdh8688 _manutdh8688 _manutdh8688 _adidas_red _manutdh8688 E20E0E E20E0E E20E0E FFFFFF 000000 _manutda8688 _manutda8688 _manutda8688 _adidas_red _manutda8688 FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 000000 FFFFFF _manutdh8688 _manutdh8688 _manutdh8688 _adidaswhite _color_3_stripes_white 0000C0 0000C0 0000C0 0000C0 0000C0 1985–86 1987–88 The 1986–87 season was Manchester United's 85th season in the Football League, and their 12th consecutive season in the top division of English football.http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/seasons/season1987.html Manchester United Season 1986/87 21 December 2011 StretfordEnd.co.uk The pressure on manager Ron Atkinson after last season's failed title challenge remained strong after United lost their opening three games of the season, and despite some decent results in the following few weeks, United bowed out of the League Cup in a fourth round replay defeat at Southampton, prompting the dismissal of Atkinson on 4 November 1986 after more than five years in charge. Alex Ferguson was confirmed as Atkinson's successor within hours, recruited from Scottish side Aberdeen, where he had enjoyed considerable success in the previous seven years. United recovered well in the league after his appointment and finished 11th, managing to scratch up some impressive results including winning both of their league clashes with Liverpool (results which helped deprive Kenny Dalglish's side of the league title), a 4–1 home win over Newcastle United on New Year's Day 1987, a 2–0 home win over a resurgent Arsenal and a 2–0 win at Old Trafford in the Manchester derby which helped push City towards relegation. However, United were prevented from finishing even higher in the league by a few disappointing results after Ferguson's arrival, beginning with a 2–0 defeat in their first game under Ferguson at Oxford United, losing both of their clashes with newly promoted Wimbledon, being beaten at Old Trafford by Norwich City just after Christmas and suffering a 4–0 defeat at Tottenham near the end of the season, although by the time of the Tottenham game it was mathematically impossible for United to either win the title or suffer relegation (there was no prospect of European qualification due to the ongoing ban on English clubs in Europe following the Heysel disaster two years earlier). United also failed to win any other away games in the league apart from the visit to Liverpool on Boxing Day. United's improvement under Ferguson during the season was achieved without making any major signings, although it was widely expected that he would spend heavily on new players during the 1987 close season. He went on to pay Celtic £850,000 for high-scoring striker Brian McClair. He strengthened the defence by paying Arsenal £250,000 for experienced full-back Viv Anderson. Unsuccessful bids were also made for several other players: Ferguson expressed an interest in bringing striker Mark Hateley back to England from Milan, but the player opted to remain overseas and signed for AS Monaco instead. He also made a bid to bring Peter Beardsley back to the club from Newcastle United, but the England international forward instead joined Liverpool for a British record fee. Ferguson was offered the chance to sign Watford winger John Barnes, but declined to make an approach for the player due to his faith in Jesper Olsen in the same position. Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance6 August 1986FluminenseH0–0(4–3p)32,2758 August 1986Dynamo KyivN1–1(1–4p)Blackmore27,50010 August 1986AjaxA0–123,00014 August 1986Shamrock RoversA0–210,20017 August 1986Real SociedadH1–1Blackmore12,8262 September 1986HeartsA2–2Olsen (pen.), T. Gibson10,43810 September 1986LinfieldA3–0Robson (2), Davenport10,91915 December 1986GCC All-StarsN1–0Whiteside4,00021 January 1987Red Star BelgradeH0–110,65224 February 1987Swansea CityA3–1T. Gibson, Whiteside, Davenport6,46718 March 1987Shamrock RoversA1–2Robson8,00025 March 1987CelticA0–136,00010 May 1987England XIH7–2Hughes (4; 1 pen.), Martin, Gibson, Bond (o.g.)16,90716 May 1987Naxxar LionsN9–0 Whiteside (3), O'Brien (2), Blackmore, Davenport (pen.), Duxbury, Stapleton4,000 First Division 1986–87 Football League#First Division DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendanceLeagueposition23 August 1986ArsenalA0–141,38215th25 August 1986West Ham UnitedH2–3Stapleton 40', Davenport 46'43,30618th30 August 1986Charlton AthleticH0–137,54421st6 September 1986Leicester CityA1–1Whiteside 52'16,78522nd13 September 1986SouthamptonH5–1Olsen 22' (pen.), Davenport 25', Stapleton (2) 36', 83', Whiteside 53'40,13519th16 September 1986WatfordA0–121,65019th21 September 1986EvertonA1–3Robson 12'25,84321st28 September 1986ChelseaH0–133,34021st4 October 1986Nottingham ForestA1–1Robson 73'34,82821st11 October 1986Sheffield WednesdayH3–1Davenport (2) 35' (pen.), 85', Whiteside 83'45,89020th18 October 1986Luton TownH1–0Stapleton 9'39,92719th25 October 1986Manchester CityA1–1Stapleton 47'32,44020th1 November 1986Coventry CityH1–1Davenport 31'36,94619th8 November 1986Oxford UnitedA0–213,54520th15 November 1986Norwich CityA0–022,68421st22 November 1986Queens Park RangersH1–0Sivebæk 32'42,23517th29 November 1986WimbledonA0–112,11217th7 December 1986Tottenham HotspurH3–3Whiteside 11', Davenport (2) 36', 88' (pen.)35,95716th13 December 1986Aston VillaA3–3Davenport (2) 18', 55', Whiteside 54'29,20517th20 December 1986Leicester CityH2–0C. Gibson 11', Stapleton 67'34,15015th26 December 1986LiverpoolA1–0Whiteside 78'40,66314th27 December 1986Norwich CityH0–144,61015th1 January 1987Newcastle UnitedH4–1P. Jackson 4' (o.g.), Whiteside 9', Stapleton 56', Olsen 90'43,33414th3 January 1987SouthamptonA1–1Olsen 11'20,40913th24 January 1987ArsenalH2–0Strachan 55', T. Gibson 90'51,36713th7 February 1987Charlton AthleticA0–015,48213th14 February 1987WatfordH3–1McGrath 26', Davenport 48' (pen.), Strachan 65'35,76311th21 February 1987ChelseaA1–1Davenport 61' (pen.)26,51612th28 February 1987EvertonH0–047,42112th7 March 1987Manchester CityH2–0Reid 62' (o.g.), Robson 85'48,61910th14 March 1987Luton TownA1–2Robson 88'12,50913th21 March 1987Sheffield WednesdayA0–129,88813th28 March 1987Nottingham ForestH2–0McGrath 12', Robson 44'39,18212th4 April 1987Oxford UnitedH3–2Davenport (2) 25', 35', Robson 90'32,44311th14 April 1987West Ham UnitedA0–023,48611th18 April 1987Newcastle UnitedA1–2Strachan 41'32,70612th20 April 1987LiverpoolH1–0Davenport 88'54,10311th25 April 1987Queens Park RangersA1–1Strachan 49'17,41411th2 May 1987WimbledonH0–131,68611th4 May 1987Tottenham HotspurA0–436,69211th6 May 1987Coventry CityA1–1Whiteside 25'23,40711th9 May 1987Aston VillaH3–1Blackmore 55', Duxbury 63', Robson 65'35,17911th First Division MUN y FA Cup 1986–87 FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance10 January 1987Round 3Manchester CityH1–0Whiteside 66'54,29431 January 1987Round 4Coventry CityH0–149,082 League Cup 1986–87 Football League Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance24 September 1986Round 2First legPort ValeH2–0Stapleton 51', Whiteside 81'18,9067 October 1986Round 2Second legPort ValeA5–2Stapleton 34', Barnes 71', Moses (2) 75', 89', Davenport 77' (pen.)10,48629 October 1986Round 3SouthamptonH0–023,6394 November 1986Round 3ReplaySouthamptonA1–4Davenport 88'17,915 Events of the season During the close season, there was speculation that manager Ron Atkinson was about to be sacked and that Aberdeen manager Alex Ferguson was going to be appointed in his place. Atkinson tried to fight back and prove the critics wrong. He attempted to sign the England defender Terry Butcher from Ipswich Town, but lost out to Rangers (who were managed by the former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness). On 8 August, dozens of Manchester United and West Ham United fans were arrested following clashes on a Sealink ferry bound for the Netherlands. This sparked fears that English clubs could even be banned from contesting friendlies with foreign sides, on top of their ban from UEFA matches.June 2022 The First Division campaign kicked off on 23 August, with Manchester United losing 1–0 to Arsenal. All of United's first three league games ended in defeat, placing them second from bottom in the First Division with only Aston Villa below them.18 April 2012 Snapshot Tables 1986-1987 18 Apr Manchester United - Manchester United FC - United Mad http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1986_1987/18/apr/manchester_united/index.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20120418221235/http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1986_1987/18/apr/manchester_united/index.shtml 18 April 2012 22 November 2022 Manchester United Mad Their first league win of the season finally came on 13 September, when they demolished Southampton 5–1 at Old Trafford,Results Fixtures 1986-1987 Manchester United - Manchester United FC - United Mad http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/results_fixtures/1986_1987/manchester_united/index.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20120523183431/http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/results_fixtures/1986_1987/manchester_united/index.shtml 23 May 2012 22 November 2022 Manchester United Mad which lifted them to 19th of 22, in a division in which they had not finished lower than fourth in any of the five previous campaigns.23 May 2012 Snapshot Tables 1986-1987 13 Sep Manchester United - Manchester United FC - United Mad http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1986_1987/13/sep/manchester_united/index.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20120523183445/http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1986_1987/13/sep/manchester_united/index.shtml 23 May 2012 22 November 2022 Manchester United Mad A dismal league game at Old Trafford on 28 September saw United lose 1–0 at home to Chelsea, and more frustratingly United missed both of the two penalties they were awarded in the game; the first from Jesper Olsen, the second from Gordon Strachan.The Sydney Morning Herald - Google News Archive Search https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k2spAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Y-YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1871,10784735&dq=manchester-united+atkinson&hl=en 22 November 2022 news.google.com In late October, experienced defender John Gidman joined neighbours Manchester City on a free transfer, but there was no talk of new additions to a hard pressed squad.June 2022 There were also fears that Gary Bailey, still only 28 but out of action for nearly a year due to a knee injury, could retire from football in the near future if he failed to make a good recovery from the injury.June 2022 On 1 November, Manchester United completed a six-match unbeaten run in the league (their last defeat being against Chelsea on 28 September) by drawing 1–1 with Coventry City, but they were still fourth from bottom and speculation over Atkinson's future as manager continued to mount.Snapshot Tables 1986-1987 1 Nov Manchester United - Manchester United FC - United Mad http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1986_1987/1/nov/manchester_united/index.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20120523183548/http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1986_1987/1/nov/manchester_united/index.shtml 23 May 2012 22 November 2022 Manchester United Mad Atkinson was finally dismissed on 5 November, the day after his team were beaten 4–1 by Southampton in a Football League Cup third round replay. It was their first defeat in a competitive game since 28 September, and their heaviest in a competitive game for 18 months. Within 24 hours, Alex Ferguson agreed to take over as Manchester United's new manager on a four-year contract. His first game in charge took place three days later, when Manchester United's six-match unbeaten run in the league came to an end with a 2–0 defeat to Oxford United. His first win at the helm came on 22 November when they beat Queen's Park Rangers 1–0 in the league at Old Trafford. Their good progress continued in December as they gained their first away league win of the season with a 1–0 win over Liverpool at Anfield. It was the first time that Liverpool lost a home game in the 1986–87 league season. Norman Whiteside scored the only goal of the game for a side who have climbed from 21st to 14th in the league since Ferguson's appointment.Results Fixtures 1986-1987 Manchester United - Manchester United FC - United Mad http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/results_fixtures/1986_1987/manchester_united/index.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20120523183431/http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/results_fixtures/1986_1987/manchester_united/index.shtml 23 May 2012 22 November 2022 Manchester United MadSnapshot Tables 1986-1987 26 Dec Manchester United - Manchester United FC - United Mad http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1986_1987/26/dec/manchester_united/index.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20120523183558/http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1986_1987/26/dec/manchester_united/index.shtml 23 May 2012 22 November 2022 Manchester United Mad There was a setback two days later, however, when captain Bryan Robson suffered a hamstring injury in Manchester United's 1–0 home defeat by Norwich City in the league.June 2022 The quest for the FA Cup began on 10 January at Old Trafford, in a Manchester derby which United won 1–0, the only goal of the game scored by Norman Whiteside. Four days after the FA Cup win, winger Peter Barnes became the second Manchester United player to join Manchester City that season, moving to Maine Road in a £20,000 deal.June 2022 The club's name was tarnished again on 20 January when 26 suspected football hooligans (some of them Manchester United supporters) were arrested in police raids across England.June 2022 Manchester United blew their final chance of silverware this season by losing 1–0 at home to Coventry City in the FA Cup fourth round at the end of January. The 110th Manchester derby (a league clash at Old Trafford on 7 March) saw Manchester United win 2–0, taking them to 10th place, while Manchester City sink into 19th place (the relegation playoff place).23 May 2012 Results Fixtures 1986-1987 Manchester United - Manchester United FC - United Mad http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/results_fixtures/1986_1987/manchester_united/index.shtml dead https://web.archive.org/web/20221122221835/http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/results_fixtures/1986_1987/manchester_united/index.shtml 22 November 2022 22 November 2022 Manchester United MadSnapshot Tables 1986-1987 7 Mar Manchester United - Manchester United FC - United Mad http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1986_1987/7/mar/manchester_united/index.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20120523183617/http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1986_1987/7/mar/manchester_united/index.shtml 23 May 2012 22 November 2022 Manchester United Mad Later that month, Alex Ferguson expressed interest in bringing Mark Hughes back to Old Trafford after a spell in Spain that had so far been disappointing.June 2022 Plans were unveiled around this time for Old Trafford to be expanded into a world class modern stadium which to resemble Barcelona's Nou Camp.June 2022 In April, chairman Martin Edwards announced plans to introduce a ground-breaking new membership scheme to combat football hooliganism.June 2022 April also saw Manchester United complete a double over Liverpool in the North West derby with a 1–0 win at Old Trafford, counting against the red half of Merseyside's title hopes as the title was heading for Everton.June 2022 Gary Bailey finally announced his retirement from playing on 23 April 1987, having failed to make a full recovery from the knee injury he had suffered 17 months earlier. Manchester United's season ended with a 3–1 home win over relegated Aston Villa,Results Fixtures 1986-1987 Manchester United - Manchester United FC - United Mad http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/results_fixtures/1986_1987/manchester_united/index.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20120523183431/http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/results_fixtures/1986_1987/manchester_united/index.shtml 23 May 2012 22 November 2022 Manchester United Mad which secured them an 11th-place finish in the First Division - their lowest since relegation from the top flight 13 years ago.Snapshot Tables 1986-1987 9 May Manchester United - Manchester United FC - United Mad http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1986_1987/9/may/manchester_united/index.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20120523183654/http://www.manchesterunited-mad.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1986_1987/9/may/manchester_united/index.shtml 23 May 2012 22 November 2022 Manchester United Mad Goalkeeper Chris Turner and defender Graeme Hogg were put on the transfer list at the end of the season.June 2022 Bids were made for the Celtic and Scotland striker Brian McClair as well as the AC Milan and England striker Mark Hateley.June 2022 A potential record breaking bid was made for the Newcastle United and England striker Peter Beardsley, who had a brief and unsuccessful spell at Old Trafford five years earlier. A less significant signing was made by Ferguson when he pays £250,000 for Arsenal defender Viv Anderson.June 2022 Striker Frank Stapleton was on his way out of the Old Trafford exit door that summer, moving to Ajax of the Netherlands in a £100,000 deal.June 2022 Brian McClair finally agreed to sign for Manchester United in a deal which a tribunal set at £850,000, while Beardsley joined Liverpool for a national record fee of £1.9 million and Hateley remained on the continent in a transfer to AS Monaco. United also made an approach for Norwich City striker Kevin Drinkell, but the player rejected Alex Ferguson's terms and decided to remain at Carrow Road instead.June 2022 Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLittlewoods CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKENG Gary Bailey50000050GKENG Chris Turner2302040290GKENG Gary Walsh1400000140DFSCO Arthur Albiston19(3)0004023(3)0DFWAL Clayton Blackmore10(2)1100011(2)1DFENG Mike Duxbury3212030371DFENG Billy Garton902000110DFENG Colin Gibson2411010261DFSCO Graeme Hogg1100020130DFIRL Paul McGrath34(1)20(1)04038(2)2DFIRL Kevin Moran32(1)0202(1)036(2)0DFDEN John Sivebæk27(1)1201030(1)1MFENG Peter Barnes70002191MFENG Tony Gill10000010MFENG Remi Moses17(1)0004221(1)2MFIRL Liam O'Brien9(2)000009(2)0MFDEN Jesper Olsen22(6)3201(1)025(7)3MFENG Bryan Robson29(1)7003032(1)7MFSCO Gordon Strachan33(1)4202037(1)4FWENG Peter Davenport34(5)141(1)04239(6)16FWENG Terry Gibson12(4)11(1)00(2)013(7)1FWIRL Frank Stapleton25(9)7204231(9)9FWNIR Norman Whiteside318213(1)136(1)10FWENG Nicky Wood20000(1)02(1)0 References Category:Manchester United F.C. seasons Manchester United