1987–88 Aston Villa F.C. season

Aston Villa
1987–88 season
ChairmanDoug Ellis
ManagerGraham Taylor
StadiumVilla Park
Second Division2nd (promoted)
FA CupFourth round
League CupFourth round
Second City Derby
41--32--26

The 1987–88 English football season was Aston Villa's 89th season in the Football League. Villa competed in the Football League Second Division and at their first attempt won promotion back to the top flight under manager, Graham Taylor.

In the Pre-season Chelsea had signed defender Tony Dorigo for £475,000. In November Villa boosted their Second Division promotion quest with a £150,000 move for Crystal Palace midfielder Andy A Gray. There were also debuts for Kevin Gage, Alan McInally, Stuart Gray, David Platt, Malcolm Allen, Mark Lillis, David Hunt, Steve Sims, and Gareth Williams. On 31 December 1987, Graeme Souness signs Aston Villa midfielder Mark Walters for Rangers for £550,000.

Post season, on 26 May 1988, Aston Villa prepare for their First Division comeback by signing Derek Mountfield from Everton for £425,000 and Chris Price from Blackburn Rovers for £150,000.


League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Relegation
1 Millwall (C, P) 44 25 7 12 72 52 +20 82 Promotion to the First Division
2 Aston Villa (P) 44 22 12 10 68 41 +27 78
3 Middlesbrough (O, P) 44 22 12 10 63 36 +27 78 Qualification for the Second Division play-offs
4 Bradford City 44 22 11 11 74 54 +20 77
5 Blackburn Rovers 44 21 14 9 68 52 +16 77
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

Matches

31 August 1987 Aston Villa 1–1 Manchester City Villa Park
Kevin Gage 40' Report
Note: Plymouth and Barnsley lead the way on goal difference, but fancied Villa are fourth from bottom.
10 October 1987 Leeds United 1–3 Aston Villa Elland Road
Report Own goal 26'; Warren Aspinall 49', 55'
31 October 1987 Aston Villa 2–1 Reading Villa Park
Andy Blair 64'; Mark Lillis 78' Report
Note: Aston Villa now stand fourth, with Ipswich Town and Birmingham City close behind.
28 November 1987 Bradford City 2–4 Aston Villa Valley Parade
Report Stuart Gray (2); Paul Birch; Garry Thompson
Note: Middlesbrough and Bradford City are level at the top of the Second Division on 43 points. Aston Villa, Hull City and Crystal Palace occupy the play-off places.
28 December 1987 Aston Villa 1–1 Huddersfield Town Villa Park
Paul Birch 30' Report
Note: Middlesbrough lead with a one-point margin over Bradford City. A four-point margin separates their nearest six challengers – Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Millwall, Hull City, Manchester City and Ipswich Town.
2 January 1988 Barnsley 1–3 Aston Villa Oakwell
Report Warren Aspinall; Paul Birch; Alan McInally
Note: 11 Jan 1988 – Dave Bassett is sacked after just six months in charge of Watford, who are currently bottom of the First Division. He is succeeded by Aston Villa assistant manager Steve Harrison.
23 January 1988 Manchester City 0–2 Aston Villa Maine Road
Report Tony Daley; Garry Thompson
Note: 26 Jan 1988 – Aston Villa boost their Second Division promotion challenge with the £200,000 acquisition of highly rated Crewe Alexandra midfielder David Platt, 21. 31 Jan 1988 – Aston Villa have crept to the top of the Second Division, while Crystal Palace have risen to second place. Middlesbrough, Millwall and Blackburn Rovers occupy the play-off zone, while Bradford City have slid from second to sixth place in the space of a few weeks. Leicester City, relegated from the First Division last season, are now in the Second Division relegation play-off places.
27 February 1988 Aston Villa 5–2 Plymouth Argyle Villa Park
Stuart Gray (pen); David Platt; Paul Birch (2); Garry Thompson Report
Note: The Second Division promotion race sees Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers level at the top of the table, with Millwall, Middlesbrough and Bradford City occupying the play-off places.
26 March 1988 Aston Villa 0–1 Stoke City Victoria Ground
Report
Note: Aston Villa remain top of the Second Division with a two-point margin over Blackburn Rovers, with the play-off places being occupied by Middlesbrough, Millwall and Bradford City. Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Stoke City remain in strong contention for promotion as well.
23 April 1988 Aston Villa 1–0 Shrewsbury Town Villa Park
Warren Aspinall Report
Note: 30 Apr 1988 – The promotion issues in the Second Division have yet to be confirmed, with just four points separating the top five clubs – Millwall, Aston Villa, Bradford City, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers.

Source: avfchistory.co.uk

FA Cup

Third round

Teams from the Football League First and Second Divisions entered in this round. The third round of games in the FA Cup were played over the weekend 9–11 January 1988, with the first set of replays being played on 12–13 January. Three games went to second replays and one of these to a third replay. Yeovil Town was again the lowest-ranked team in the draw, while Macclesfield Town, Maidstone United, Sutton United, Bath City and Yeovil were the last non-league clubs left in the competition.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
29Leeds United (2)1–2Aston Villa (2)9 January 1988

Fourth round

The fourth round of games were played over the weekend 30 January – 1 February 1988, with replays being played on 3 February. A second replay was then played on 9 February. Holders Coventry City were eliminated by Watford. Fourth Division side Leyton Orient was the lowest-ranked team in the draw.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
2Aston Villa0–2Liverpool31 January 1988

League Cup

Second round

First leg

Home team Score Away team Date
Middlesbrough0–1Aston Villa23 September 1987

Second leg

Home team Score Away team Date Agg.
Aston Villa1–0Middlesbrough7 October 19872–0

Third round

Home team Score Away team Date
Aston Villa2–1Tottenham Hotspur28 October 1987

References

  1. ↑ Tony Dorigo: Career statistics. soccerbase. Retrieved 8 June 2013
  2. ↑ "AVFC History". www.avfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "AVFC History". www.avfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "AVFC History". www.avfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  5. ↑ "AVFC History". www.avfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  6. ↑ "AVFC History". www.avfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Malcolm Allen Aston Villa Forward". AVFC History. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "AVFC History". www.avfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "David Hunt Aston Villa Midfielder". AVFC History. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "AVFC History".
  11. ↑ "AVFC History". www.avfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  12. ↑ "Aston Villa's Seasons". AVFC History.
  13. 1 2 "AVFC History". Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  14. ↑ AVFC History – 1987–88 League Matches
  15. ↑ Entertainment & Sports Agency Limited. "Aston Villa FC News – VillaMAD". Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  16. ↑ Aston Villa FC News – VillaMAD Archived 1 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Astonvilla-mad.co.uk (31 October 1987). Retrieved on 23 March 2011.
  17. ↑ Aston Villa FC News – VillaMAD Archived 22 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Astonvilla-mad.co.uk (28 November 1987). Retrieved on 23 March 2011.
  18. ↑ "🟩 1 Jan 1988, Villa 5-0 Hull, Villa Park".
  19. ↑ "🟩 2 Jan 1988, Villa 3-1 Barnsley, Oakwell".
  20. ↑ "🟩 16 Jan 1988, Villa 1-0 Ipswich, Villa Park". AVFC History. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  21. ↑ Aston Villa FC News – VillaMAD Archived 1 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Astonvilla-mad.co.uk (23 January 1988). Retrieved on 23 March 2011.
  22. ↑ Aston Villa FC News – VillaMAD Archived 1 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Astonvilla-mad.co.uk (27 February 1988). Retrieved on 23 March 2011.
  23. ↑ Aston Villa FC News – VillaMAD Archived 28 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Astonvilla-mad.co.uk (26 March 1988). Retrieved 23 March 2011
  24. ↑ Aston Villa FC News – VillaMAD Archived 28 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Astonvilla-mad.co.uk (23 April 1988). Retrieved on 23 March 2011.