1987–88 Manchester United F.C. season


The 1987–88 season was Manchester United's 86th season in the Football League, and their 13th consecutive season in the top division of English football.
The season was a relative success, with the club finishing second in the league, but they did not play in the UEFA Cup the following season due to the ban on English clubs in Europe after the Heysel Stadium disaster. They finished nine points behind champions Liverpool, who lost just twice all season and for much of the campaign looked uncatchable. Perhaps the most memorable game of the season was in the league at Anfield just before Liverpool's title was confirmed, when United were 3–1 down at half time but fought back to hold the hosts to a 3–3 draw, denying them two points and delaying their bid to seal the title.
United lost just five times in the league in 40 games, and lost only once at Old Trafford, but a few disappointing draws against relatively unfancied sides including Charlton and Luton led to crucial points being dropped and prevented them from mounting a serious threat to Liverpool.
It was Alex Ferguson's first full season as United manager, and it was the first season at the club for new signings Brian McClair and Viv Anderson. December also saw the arrival of defender Steve Bruce from Norwich City in a £900,000 deal, after an approach for Rangers and England defender Terry Butcher collapsed when the player suffered a broken leg.
After the season's end, Ferguson brought Mark Hughes back to Old Trafford from Barcelona in a £1.8 million deal that made him United's record signing. He also replaced Chris Turner in goal by paying £500,000 for Jim Leighton, who played under Ferguson at Aberdeen. He also attempted to sign Paul Gascoigne from Newcastle United, and a deal was agreed, but while Ferguson was on holiday, Gascoigne agreed to join Tottenham Hotspur in the first £2 million fee to be paid by a British club.
It was the last season at United for long-serving defender Kevin Moran, who was transferred to Sporting Gijon after losing his place in the team to Steve Bruce. Remi Moses played his last game for the club before ongoing injury problems forced his retirement from playing, when still in his twenties.

Pre-season and friendlies

Football League Centenary Tournament

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F–A		ScorersAttendance
16 April 1988Round 1Luton TownN2–0McClair, Davenport
16 April 1988Quarter-finalEvertonN1–0Bruce
17 April 1988Semi-finalSheffield WednesdayN1–2Davenport

First Division

DateOpponentsH / AResult
F–A		ScorersAttendanceLeague
position
15 August 1987SouthamptonA2–2Whiteside 25', 31'21,21410th
19 August 1987ArsenalH0–043,89312th
22 August 1987WatfordH2–0McGrath 10', McClair 20'38,7697th
29 August 1987Charlton AthleticA3–1McClair 10', Robson 22', McGrath 45'14,0465th
31 August 1987ChelseaH3–1McClair 25', Strachan 48', Whiteside 83'46,6161st
5 September 1987Coventry CityA0–027,1252nd
12 September 1987Newcastle UnitedH2–2Olsen 8', McClair 45' 45,6193rd
19 September 1987EvertonA1–2Whiteside 59'38,4396th
26 September 1987Tottenham HotspurH1–0McClair 44' 48,0876th
3 October 1987Luton TownA1–1McClair 54'9,1376th
10 October 1987Sheffield WednesdayA4–2Robson 40', McClair 53', 78', Blackmore 60'32,7794th
17 October 1987Norwich CityH2–1Davenport 46', Robson 80'39,8214th
24 October 1987West Ham UnitedA1–1Gibson 45'19,8635th
31 October 1987Nottingham ForestH2–2Robson 54', Whiteside 59'44,6695th
15 November 1987LiverpoolH1–1Whiteside 50'47,1065th
21 November 1987WimbledonA1–2Blackmore 65'11,5326th
5 December 1987Queens Park RangersA2–0Davenport 35', Robson 74'20,6326th
12 December 1987Oxford UnitedH3–1Strachan 23', 31', Olsen 50'34,7094th
19 December 1987PortsmouthA2–1Robson 35', McClair 48'22,2074th
26 December 1987Newcastle UnitedA0–126,4615th
28 December 1987EvertonH2–1McClair 50', 73' 47,0244th
1 January 1988Charlton AthleticH0–037,2574th
2 January 1988WatfordA1–0McClair 39'18,0384th
16 January 1988SouthamptonH0–235,7165th
24 January 1988ArsenalA2–1Strachan 11', McClair 67'29,3923rd
6 February 1988Coventry CityH1–0O'Brien 5'37,1443rd
10 February 1988Derby CountyA2–1Strachan 71', Whiteside 88'20,0162nd
13 February 1988ChelseaA2–1Bruce 50', O'Brien 52'25,0142nd
23 February 1988Tottenham HotspurA1–1McClair 82'25,7312nd
5 March 1988Norwich CityA0–119,1292nd
12 March 1988Sheffield WednesdayH4–1Blackmore 1', McClair 7', 53', Davenport 79'33,3182nd
19 March 1988Nottingham ForestA0–027,5982nd
26 March 1988West Ham UnitedH3–1Strachan 58', Anderson 83', Robson 90'37,2692nd
2 April 1988Derby CountyH4–1McClair 16', 23', 64', Gibson 51'40,1462nd
4 April 1988LiverpoolA3–3Robson 3', 66', Strachan 77'43,4972nd
12 April 1988Luton TownH3–0McClair 44', Robson 66', Davenport 68'28,8302nd
30 April 1988Queens Park RangersH2–1Bruce 10', Parker 83' 35,7332nd
2 May 1988Oxford UnitedA2–0Anderson 7', Strachan 37'8,9662nd
7 May 1988PortsmouthH4–1McClair 5', 58', Davenport 25', Robson 35'35,1052nd
9 May 1988WimbledonH2–1McClair 50', 75' 28,0402nd

Club
1Liverpool40261228724+6390
2Manchester United40231257138+3381
3Nottingham Forest40201376739+2873

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

FA Cup

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F–A		ScorersAttendance
10 January 1988Round 3Ipswich TownA2–1D'Avray 28', Anderson 64'23,012
30 January 1988Round 4ChelseaH2–0Whiteside 42', McClair 70'50,716
20 February 1988Round 5ArsenalA1–2McClair 52'54,161

League Cup

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F–A		ScorersAttendance
23 September 1987Round 2
First leg		Hull CityH5–0McGrath 38', Davenport 71', Whiteside 74', Strachan 81', McClair 85'25,041
7 October 1987Round 2
Second leg		Hull CityA1–0McClair 62'13,586
28 October 1987Round 3Crystal PalaceH2–1McClair 7', 28'27,283
18 November 1987Round 4BuryH2–1Whiteside 63', McClair 68'33,519
20 January 1988Round 5Oxford UnitedA0–212,658

Events of the season

Manchester United began the 1987–88 season with new signings in the shape of defender Viv Anderson and striker Brian McClair, while Frank Stapleton and Terry Gibson were both on their way out of Old Trafford.
The First Division season began with Manchester United drawing 2–2 at Southampton, with Norman Whiteside scores both of United's goals, with Southampton's Danny Wallace scoring both of the home side's goals.
Bryan Robson was sent off on 29 August as Manchester United beat Charlton Athletic 3–1 away in their fourth league game of the season, placing them fifth in the First Division.
18 September 1987: Manchester United also made a bid to sign Wales striker Andy Jones from Port Vale, but the player instead opted for Charlton Athletic in a £300,000 deal.
The good progress which saw Manchester United climb to mid table from near the foot of the First Division following Alex Ferguson's appointment last season continued into this season as they soon established themselves as a top five force and the nearest serious challengers to traditional title favourites Liverpool.
Alex Ferguson had long been known to be keen to secure the signing of Mark Hughes, who had to stay outside Britain until at least April 1988 to avoid taxation on money earned since his move from Manchester United to FC Barcelona in June 1986, was reported to be on the verge of signing a permanent contract with Bayern Munich of West Germany after a successful start to his loan spell at the Olympiastadion.
His hopes of signing the Rangers and England defender Terry Butcher were dashed when Rangers manager Graeme Souness offered him a lucrative contract to stay at Ibrox until at least 1993.
On a tour of Bermuda in late November, winger Clayton Blackmore was arrested on allegations of rape but swiftly released from custody after no charges were brought against him.
Alex Ferguson then made a £750,000 bid to bring Steve Bruce to Manchester United from Norwich City, but the offer was rejected. Ferguson had turned his attention back to Bruce following his failure to secure Terry Butcher, having originally been put off Bruce by Norwich's £1 million price tag. A second bid for Steve Bruce - reported to be in the region of £850,000 - was then made, but again rejected. The transfer was finally completed on 18 December at a cost of £900,000 transfer from Norwich City to Manchester United.
Ferguson then looked to boost his attack with an offer for Luton Town striker Mick Harford, but the player decided to remain at Kenilworth Road after manager Ray Harford offered him a four-year contract.
On 10 January 1988, Manchester United's FA Cup quest began with a 2–1 over Ipswich Town in the third round at Portman Road. 10 days later, their hopes of Football League Cup glory were ended by a 2–0 defeat at Oxford United in the quarter-final.
By the end of the month, however, they had progressed to the FA Cup fifth round with a 2–0 home win over Chelsea.
The FA Cup dream ended, however, on 20 February, when they suffered a 2–1 defeat at
Arsenal in the fifth round. Brian McClair, the club's leading goalscorer, missed a late penalty that would have forced a replay.
Norman Whiteside, who had spent his whole seven-year playing career at Manchester United, handed in a transfer request near the end of March and spoke of his desire to play football in a foreign country.
On 4 April, Manchester United pulled off a remarkable 3–3 draw with Liverpool at Anfield in a First Division game which Liverpool had led 3–1 at half time. Manchester United trailed Liverpool, who have two games in hand, by 11 points as they still had five games left to play, so Liverpool inevitably clinched the title within three weeks of this game and United had to settle for second place.
On 18 April, Ferguson agreed a deal for Lee Sharpe, the 16-year-old Torquay United winger, for £200,000 - a record fee for a YTS player.
After the end of the season, Ferguson brought Mark Hughes back to Manchester United for a club record fee of £1.8 million and also signed Aberdeen and Scotland goalkeeper Jim Leighton for £500,000. Newcastle United midfielder Paul Gascoigne had looked set to join Manchester United, but then spurned them for a national record £2 million move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Squad statistics