# 1986–87 Leeds United A.F.C. season

The 1986–87 season was Leeds United's 60th season in the Football League, and their fifth consecutive season in the Football League Second Division, the second tier of English football, where they finished 4th, qualifying for the Football League Second Division play-offs, where they lost in the final to Charlton Athletic. Alongside the Second Division, the club competed in the FA Cup and the Football League Cup, being eliminated in the semi-finals of the former and the second round of the latter.

## Background

Leeds United had played in the second tier of English football since they were relegated in the 1981–82 season. Billy Bremner had been appointed as their manager in October 1985, replacing Eddie Gray. After leading the club to 14th position in the league that season, Bremner made a number of changes to playing staff, including bringing in at least ten players. Along with the fourth-place finish in the league, Bremner oversaw Leeds' run to the semi-final of the 1986–87 FA Cup where they lost to Coventry City F.C.

## Competitions
### Second Division
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 2 | Portsmouth (P) | 42 | 23 | 9 | 10 | 53 | 28 | +25 | 78 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 3 | Oldham Athletic | 42 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 65 | 44 | +21 | 75 | Qualification for the Second Division play-offs |
| 4 | Leeds United | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 58 | 44 | +14 | 68 | Qualification for the Second Division play-offs |
| 5 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 59 | 43 | +16 | 64 | Qualification for the Second Division play-offs |
| 6 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 19 | 5 | 18 | 51 | 53 | −2 | 62 | |

#### Matches

| Win | Draw | Loss |
Second Division match results :
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 23 August 1986 | Blackburn Rovers | Away | 1–2 | Ritchie | 8,346 |
| 25 August 1986 | Stoke City | Home | 2–1 | Sheridan, Baird | 13,334 |
| 30 August 1986 | Sheffield United | Home | 0–1 | | 18,294 |
| 2 September 1986 | Barnsley | Away | 1–0 | Baird | 6,839 |
| 6 September 1986 | Huddersfield Town | Away | 1–1 | Sheridan | 9,306 |
| 13 September 1986 | Reading | Home | 3–2 | Edwards, Ritchie, Buckley | 12,248 |
| 20 September 1986 | Bradford City | Away | 0–2 | | 13,525 |
| 27 September 1986 | Hull City | Home | 3–0 | Ritchie (pen.), Baird, Ormsby | 13,551 |
| 4 October 1986 | Plymouth Argyle | Away | 1–1 | Baird | 11,923 |
| 11 October 1986 | Crystal Palace | Home | 3–0 | Sheridan (pen.), Ormsby, Edwards | 14,316 |
| 18 October 1986 | Portsmouth | Home | 3–1 | Sheridan (pen.), Ritchie, Baird | 21,361 |
| 25 October 1986 | Grimsby Town | Away | 0–0 | | 7,223 |
| 1 November 1986 | Shrewsbury Town | Home | 1–0 | Aspin | 14,966 |
| 8 November 1986 | Millwall | Away | 0–1 | | 6,869 |
| 15 November 1986 | Oldham Athletic | Home | 0–2 | | 21,052 |
| 21 November 1986 | Birmingham City | Away | 1–2 | Sheridan | 7,836 |
| 29 November 1986 | Derby County | Home | 2–0 | Sheridan, Edwards | 19,129 |
| 6 December 1986 | West Bromwich Albion | Away | 0–3 | | 19,853 |
| 13 December 1986 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Home | 3–1 | Sheridan, Snodin, Baird | 12,014 |
| 21 December 1986 | Stoke City | Away | 2–7 | Baird, Sheridan (pen.) | 12,358 |
| 26 December 1986 | Sunderland | Home | 1–1 | Bennett (o.g.) | 21,286 |
| 27 December 1986 | Oldham Athletic | Away | 1–0 | Ritchie | 8,477 |
| 1 January 1987 | Ipswich Town | Away | 0–2 | | 14,125 |
| 3 January 1987 | Huddersfield Town | Home | 1–1 | Baird | 17,983 |
| 24 January 1987 | Blackburn Rovers | Home | 0–0 | | 14,452 |
| 7 February 1987 | Sheffield United | Away | 0–0 | | 12,494 |
| 14 February 1987 | Barnsley | Home | 2–2 | Baird, Sheridan | 14,216 |
| 28 February 1987 | Bradford City | Home | 1–0 | Edwards | 21,802 |
| 7 March 1987 | Grimsby Town | Home | 2–0 | Ritchie, Sheridan (pen.) | 14,270 |
| 10 March 1987 | Portsmouth | Away | 1–1 | Adams | 13,745 |
| 21 March 1987 | Crystal Palace | Away | 0–1 | | 8,781 |
| 28 March 1987 | Plymouth Argyle | Home | 4–0 | Sheridan, Baird (3) | 18,618 |
| 4 April 1987 | Millwall | Home | 2–0 | Baird, Ritchie | 18,304 |
| 8 April 1987 | Hull City | Away | 0–0 | | 9,531 |
| 14 April 1987 | Shrewsbury Town | Away | 2–0 | Sheridan, Pearson | 4,186 |
| 18 April 1987 | Ipswich Town | Home | 3–2 | McDonald, Sheridan, Ormsby | 24,839 |
| 20 April 1987 | Sunderland | Away | 1–1 | Pearson | 14,725 |
| 22 April 1987 | Reading | Away | 1–2 | Pearson | 7,415 |
| 25 April 1987 | Birmingham City | Home | 4–0 | Sheridan, Baird (2), Edwards | 19,100 |
| 2 May 1987 | Derby County | Away | 1–2 | Ashurst | 20,087 |
| 4 May 1987 | West Bromwich Albion | Home | 3–2 | Sheridan (pen.), Pearson, Ormsby | 24,688 |
| 9 May 1987 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Away | 1–0 | Edwards | 8,139 |
Source:

#### Play-offs
### FA Cup

FA Cup match details :
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| Third round | 11 January 1987 | Telford United | Away | 2–1 | Baird (2) | 6,460 |
| Fourth round | 3 February 1987 | Swindon Town | Away | 2–1 | Quinn (o.g.), Baird | 14,031 |
| Fifth round | 21 February 1987 | Queens Park Rangers | Home | 2–1 | Baird, Ormsby | 31,324 |
| Sixth round | 15 March 1987 | Wigan Athletic | Away | 2–0 | Stiles, Adams | 12,479 |
| Semi-final | 12 April 1987 | Coventry City | Neutral | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | Rennie, Edwards | 51,372 |
Source:

### League Cup

League Cup match details :
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| Second round, first leg | 23 September 1986 | Oldham Athletic | Away | 2–3 | Aspin, Taylor | 5,569 |
| Second round, second leg | 8 October 1986 | Oldham Athletic | Home | 0–1 | | 11,449 |
Source:

### Full Members' Cup

Full Members' Cup match details :
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| First round | 1 October 1986 | Bradford City | Home | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | | 3,960 |
Source: