| 1986–87 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Doug Ellis |
| Manager | Graham Turner (until 14 September) Ron Wylie (caretaker until 22 September) Billy McNeill |
| Stadium | Villa Park |
| First Division | 22nd (relegated) |
| FA Cup | Third round |
| League Cup | Fourth round |
The 1986–87 English football season was Aston Villa's 88th season in the Football League. The 1986–87 Football League First Division season saw Aston Villa relegated. Manager, Graham Turner, was sacked on 14 September 1986, just over two years after his appointment, as Villa lost five of their first six matches. Billy McNeill, manager of Manchester City, quit that month to take charge of Villa. When Villa were relegated, after finishing bottom of the First Division in May 1987, McNeill stood down and was replaced by Graham Taylor. Manchester City were also relegated that season.
On 1 Aug 1986 Turner signed midfielder Neale Cooper from Aberdeen for £350,000. There were also debuts under Turner for Garry Thompson, Martin Keown, and under McNeil for Phil Robinson, Mark Burke, Bernie Gallacher and Stuart Ritchie.
23 Dec 1986 – Tottenham Hotspur sign midfielder Steve Hodge from Aston Villa for £650,000. 19 Feb 1987 – Billy McNeill boosts Aston Villa's battle against relegation by paying Everton £300,000 for striker Warren Aspinall.
On 8 May, relegated Aston Villa sacked Billy McNeill after eight months as manager. Two weeks later, Graham Taylor resigns after 10 years as Watford manager to succeed him. Villa begin rebuilding following relegation with the sale of defender Tony Dorigo to Chelsea for £450,000.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Oxford United | 42 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 44 | 69 | −25 | 46 | |
| 19 | Charlton Athletic (O) | 42 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 45 | 55 | −10 | 44 | Qualification for the Second Division play-offs |
| 20 | Leicester City (R) | 42 | 11 | 9 | 22 | 54 | 76 | −22 | 42 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 21 | Manchester City (R) | 42 | 8 | 15 | 19 | 36 | 57 | −21 | 39 | |
| 22 | Aston Villa (R) | 42 | 8 | 12 | 22 | 45 | 79 | −34 | 36 |
Matches
| 23 August 1986 | Aston Villa | 0–3 | Tottenham Hotspur | Villa Park |
| Report |
| 26 August 1986 | Wimbledon | 3–2 | Aston Villa | Plough Lane |
| Report | Allan Evans (pen), Garry Thompson | |||
| Note: | ||||
| 30 August 1986 | Queens Park Rangers | 1–0 | Aston Villa | Loftus Road |
| Report | ||||
| Note: The bottom two places in the league were occupied by Manchester United and Aston Villa, who are yet to gain a point this season. | ||||
| 3 September 1986 | Aston Villa | 2–1 | Luton Town | Villa Park |
| Paul Kerr (45', 46') | Report |
| 6 September 1986 | Aston Villa | 1–2 | Oxford United | Villa Park |
| Simon Stainrod (pen) | Report |
| 13 September 1986 | Nottingham Forest | 6–0 | Aston Villa | City Ground |
| Report | ||||
| Note: Bryan Robson made his first league appearance since April to help Manchester United record their first league win of the season at the fifth attempt as they beat Southampton 5–1 at Old Trafford and climb off the bottom of the First Division. Nottingham Forest go top with a 6–0 home win over Aston Villa. Aston Villa sack manager Graham Turner after just over two years at the helm. | ||||
| 20 September 1986 | Aston Villa | 1–4 | Norwich City | Villa Park |
| Simon Stainrod | Report | |||
| Note: Newly promoted Norwich go second with a 4–1 win at Aston Villa. A nine-goal thriller at Leeds Road sees Huddersfield beat Oldham 5–4 in the Second Division. | ||||
| 27 September 1986 | Liverpool | 3–3 | Aston Villa | Anfield |
| Report | Steve Hodge, Garry Thompson, Allan Evans (pen) | |||
| Note: Aston Villa's first league match under Billy McNeill ends in a 3–3 draw with Liverpool at Anfield after the hosts come from behind twice to equalise. Aston Villa still occupy bottom place and Manchester United are second from bottom with just four points so far this campaign. | ||||
| 4 October 1986 | Coventry City | 0–1 | Aston Villa | Highfield Road |
| Report | Garry Thompson |
| 11 October 1986 | Aston Villa | 3–1 | Southampton | Villa Park |
| Paul Elliott (2), Allan Evans (pen) | Report |
| 18 October 1986 | Watford | 4–2 | Aston Villa | Vicarage Road |
| Report | Mark Walters, Simon Stainrod |
| 25 October 1986 | Aston Villa | 2–0 | Newcastle United | Villa Park |
| Steve Hodge (2) | Report | |||
| Note: As October ends, Manchester United and Aston Villa have both climbed out of the bottom two, ahead of Newcastle United, Manchester City and Chelsea. | ||||
| 1 November 1986 | Aston Villa | 2–0 | Leicester City | Villa Park |
| Simon Stainrod (2) | Report |
| 8 November 1986 | Manchester City | 3–1 | Aston Villa | Maine Road |
| Report | Tony Daley |
| 15 November 1986 | Aston Villa | 0–0 | Chelsea | Villa Park |
| Report |
| 22 November 1986 | West Ham United | 1–1 | Aston Villa | Boleyn Ground |
| Report | Garry Thompson |
| 29 November 1986 | Aston Villa | 0–4 | Arsenal | Villa Park |
| Report | ||||
| Note: Arsenal remain top with a 4–0 away win over Aston Villa. | ||||
| 6 December 1986 | Sheffield Wednesday | 2–1 | Aston Villa | Hillsborough Stadium |
| Report | Allan Evans (pen) | |||
| Note: | ||||
| 13 December 1986 | Aston Villa | 3–3 | Manchester United | Villa Park |
| Steve Hodge, Garry Thompson, Allan Evans (pen) | Report | |||
| Note: Villa come from 3–1 down in the final minutes to draw 3–3 with Manchester United in a First Division clash at Villa Park. | ||||
| 20 December 1986 | Oxford United | 2–2 | Aston Villa | Manor Ground |
| Report | Garry Thompson, Mark Walters |
| 26 December 1986 | Aston Villa | 2–0 | Charlton Athletic | Villa Park |
| Paul Birch, Tony Daley | Report |
| 27 December 1986 | Chelsea | 4–1 | Aston Villa | Stamford Bridge |
| Report | Paul Elliott | |||
| Note: Chelsea halt their dismal form with a 4–1 home win over Aston Villa. | ||||
| 1 January 1987 | Everton | 3–0 | Aston Villa | Goodison Park |
| Report | ||||
| Note: Arsenal remain four points ahead at the top of the First Division with a 3–1 home win over Wimbledon, as Everton keep up the pressure with a 3–0 home win over Aston Villa. | ||||
| 3 January 1987 | Aston Villa | 0–0 | Nottingham Forest | Villa Park |
| Report |
| 24 January 1987 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3–0 | Aston Villa | White Hart Lane |
| Report | ||||
| Note: Tottenham gain 3–0 home win over Aston Villa. Villa have slipped back into the relegation zone, joining Leicester City and Newcastle United. | ||||
| 7 February 1987 | Aston Villa | 0–1 | Queens Park Rangers | Villa Park |
| Report |
| 14 February 1987 | Luton Town | 2–1 | Aston Villa | Kenilworth Road |
| Report | Allan Evans (pen) |
| 21 February 1987 | Aston Villa | 2–2 | Liverpool | Villa Park |
| Own goal, Paul Elliott | Report | |||
| Note: Liverpool miss the chance to go level on points at the top of the First Division when they are held to a 2–2 draw at Aston Villa. | ||||
| 28 February 1987 | Norwich City | 1–1 | Aston Villa | Carrow Road |
| Report |
| 4 March 1987 | Aston Villa | 0–0 | Wimbledon | Villa Park |
| Report | ||||
| Note: Aston Villa miss the chance to climb out of the bottom four after Wimbledon hold them to a goalless draw at Villa Park. | ||||
| 7 March 1987 | Newcastle United | 2–1 | Aston Villa | St James' Park |
| Report | ||||
| Note: Newcastle stay bottom of the table but boost their survival hopes with a 2–1 home win over an Aston Villa side who are now second from bottom. | ||||
| 21 March 1987 | Southampton | 5–0 | Aston Villa | The Dell |
| Report | ||||
| Note: The latest relegation crunch thriller sees Southampton beat Aston Villa 5–0 at The Dell. | ||||
| 25 March 1987 | Aston Villa | 1–1 | Watford | Villa Park |
| Steve Hunt 81' | Report | |||
| Note: Aston Villa drop two more points in their survival battle. Leicester climb out of the bottom four with a 4–1 home win over QPR. Newcastle remain bottom after drawing 1–1 at home to Tottenham. | ||||
| 28 March 1987 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Coventry City | Villa Park |
| Report | ||||
| Note: Manchester City crash to the bottom of the table with a 4–0 defeat against Leicester City at Filbert Street, which is a major boost for the home side's survival hopes. Aston Villa boost their own survival bid with a 1–0 home win over Coventry City. Newcastle climb off the bottom of the table with a 2–0 home win over Southampton. | ||||
| 4 April 1987 | Aston Villa | 0–0 | Manchester City | Villa Park |
| Report | ||||
| Note: First Division strugglers Aston Villa and Manchester City draw 0–0 at Villa Park. Newcastle's survival hopes are given a fresh boost as they beat Leicester City 2–0 at home. A seven-goal thriller at Selhurst Park sees Charlton beat Watford 4–3 to boost their survival bid. | ||||
| 11 April 1987 | Leicester City | 1–1 | Aston Villa | Filbert Street |
| Report | Mark Walters 62' |
| 18 April 1987 | Aston Villa | 0–1 | Everton | Villa Park |
| Report | ||||
| Note: Everton move closer to winning the First Division title with a 1–0 away win over Aston Villa, who are six points adrift of the relegation playoff place and seven points adrift of automatic survival with five games remaining. | ||||
| 20 April 1987 | Charlton | 3–0 | Aston Villa | Selhurst Park |
| Report | ||||
| Note: A relegation crunch game at Selhurst Park sees Charlton boost their survival hopes by winning 3–0 against Aston Villa, whose survival hopes are left hanging by a thread. | ||||
| 25 April 1987 | Aston Villa | 4–0 | West Ham United | Villa Park |
| Steve Hunt, Warren Aspinall (2), Simon Stainrod | Report | |||
| Note: Comprehensive victories for the bottom two of Aston Villa and Manchester City keeps the survival hopes of both clubs alive. | ||||
| 2 May 1987 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Aston Villa | Highbury |
| Report | Warren Aspinall | |||
| Note: Aston Villa are left needing at least four points from their final two games after losing 2–1 to Arsenal at Highbury. | ||||
| 4 May 1987 | Aston Villa | 1–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | Villa Park |
| Phil Robinson | Report | |||
| Note: Aston Villa's relegation is confirmed as they lose 2–1 at home to Sheffield Wednesday. | ||||
| 9 May 1987 | Manchester United | 3–1 | Aston Villa | Old Trafford |
| Report | Paul Birch |
Source: avfchistory.co.uk
Teams from the Football League First and Second Divisions entered in the Third round. Most of the third round of games in the FA Cup were played over the weekend 10–11 January 1987, however various matches and replays were played as late as 31 January. Holders Liverpool were eliminated by Luton Town. Caernarfon Town was again the lowest-ranked team in the round, while Caernarfon, Maidstone United and Telford United were the last non-league clubs left in the competition.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Aston Villa (1) | 2–2 | Chelsea (1) | 10 January 1987 |
| Replay | Chelsea | 2–1 | Aston Villa | 21 January 1987 |
First leg
| Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 1–1 | Aston Villa | 24 September 1986 |
Second leg
| Home team | Score | Away team | Date | Agg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa | 4–1 | Reading | 8 October 1986 | 5–2 |
| Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derby County | 1–1 | Aston Villa | 29 October 1986 |
Replays
| Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa | 2–1 | Derby County | 4 November 1986 |
| Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton | 2–1 | Aston Villa | 18 November 1986 |
2 Apr 1987 – Former Aston Villa and Wales midfielder Trevor Hockey dies of a heart attack at the age of 43 after collapsing during a charity football match in West Yorkshire.