# 1985–86 Football League Cup

The 1985–86 Football League Cup (known as the Milk Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 26th season of the Football League Cup, a knockout competition for England's top 92 football clubs.
The competition began on 20 August 1985, and ended with the final on 20 April 1986 at the Old Wembley Stadium. The cup was won by Oxford United, who beat Queens Park Rangers 3–0 in the final, to win their first major cup silverware. It was Oxford United's first season in Division One. Goals from Trevor Hebberd, Ray Houghton and Jeremy Charles sealed the victory. TV coverage of this competition only began after Christmas following the "blackout" where no club matches were shown for the first half of the season, and there was no UEFA Cup place for the winners as a result of the ban on English clubs that followed the Heysel Stadium disaster.

## First round

A total of 56 teams took part in the First Round. All of the Third Division and Fourth Division sides entered, with eight of the Second Division clubs also starting in this round. The eight clubs consisted of the three teams promoted from the Third Division and the five teams finishing 15th to 19th in the Second Division from the 1984–85 season. Each tie was played across two legs.
| Home team | First Leg | Second Leg | Agg. | Away team | Dates | Dates |
| Home team | First Leg | Second Leg | Agg. | Away team | First Leg | Second Leg |
| Aldershot | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–5 | Leyton Orient | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–2 | Stockport County | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Bradford City | 2–2 | 4–3 | 6–5 | Chesterfield | 21 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Bristol Rovers | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | Newport County | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Burnley | 2–1 | 3–5 | 5–6 | Bury | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Cambridge United | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | Brentford | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Cardiff City | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–4 | Swansea City | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Charlton Athletic | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | Crystal Palace | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Colchester United | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–7 | Millwall | 21 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Crewe Alexandra | 3–3 | 4–3 | 7–6 | Carlisle United | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Darlington | 3–2 | 0–0 | 3–2 | Scunthorpe United | 20 August 1985 | 10 September 1985 |
| Derby County | 3–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | Hartlepool United | 21 August 1985 | 4 September 1985 |
| Halifax Town | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–4 | Hull City | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Hereford United | 5–1 | 0–2 | 5–3 | Bristol City | 21 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Mansfield Town | 2–0 | 4–4 | 6–4 | Middlesbrough | 21 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Notts County | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | Doncaster Rovers | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Peterborough United | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | Northampton Town | 21 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Plymouth Argyle | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | Exeter City | 20 August 1985 | 4 September 1985 |
| Preston North End | 2–1 | 3–1 | 5–2 | Blackpool | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Reading | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–5 | Bournemouth | 21 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Rotherham United | 1–3 | 1–5 | 2–8 | Sheffield United | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Southend United | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | Gillingham | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Torquay United | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–4 | Swindon Town | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Tranmere Rovers | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–3 | Chester City | 28 August 1985 | 4 September 1985 |
| Walsall | 4–1 | 1–0 | 5–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| Wigan Athletic | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | Port Vale | 20 August 1985 | 2 September 1985 |
| Wrexham | 4–0 | 1–2 | 5–2 | Rochdale | 20 August 1985 | 3 September 1985 |
| York City | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–2 | Lincoln City | 20 August 1985 | 4 September 1985 |

## Second round

A total of 64 teams took part in the Second Round, including the 28 winners from round one. The remaining Second Division clubs entered in this round, as well as the 22 sides from the First Division. Each tie was again played across two legs.
| Home team | First Leg | Second Leg | Agg. | Away team | Dates | Dates |
| Home team | First Leg | Second Leg | Agg. | Away team | First Leg | Second Leg |
| Brentford | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | Sheffield Wednesday | 25 September 1985 | 15 October 1985 |
| Brighton and Hove Albion | 5–2 | 2–0 | 7–2 | Bradford City | 25 September 1985 | 9 October 1985 |
| Bristol Rovers | 2–3 | 1–2 | 3–5 | Birmingham City | 24 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Bury | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–4 | Manchester City | 25 September 1985 | 9 October 1985 |
| Chester City | 1–2 | 2–7 | 3–9 | Coventry City | 25 September 1985 | 9 October 1985 |
| Crewe Alexandra | 1–3 | 2–3 | 3–6 | Watford | 24 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Crystal Palace | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | Manchester United | 24 September 1985 | 9 October 1985 |
| Derby County | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | Leicester City | 25 September 1985 | 9 October 1985 |
| Everton | 3–2 | 2–0 | 5–2 | Bournemouth | 25 September 1985 | 7 October 1985 |
| Exeter City | 1–4 | 1–8 | 2–12 | Aston Villa | 25 September 1985 | 9 October 1985 |
| Fulham | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–3 | Notts County | 24 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Gillingham | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–5 | Portsmouth | 24 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Grimsby Town | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–3 | York City | 24 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Hereford United | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | Arsenal | 25 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Ipswich Town | 3–1 | 4–1 | 7–2 | Darlington | 24 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Leeds United | 0–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | Walsall | 25 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Liverpool | 3–0 | 5–2 | 8–2 | Oldham Athletic | 24 September 1985 | 9 October 1985 |
| Mansfield Town | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | Chelsea | 25 September 1985 | 9 October 1985 |
| Millwall | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | Southampton | 25 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Newcastle United | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | Barnsley | 25 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Nottingham Forest | 4–0 | 3–0 | 7–0 | Bolton Wanderers | 25 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Leyton Orient | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 23 September 1985 | 30 October 1985 |
| Oxford United | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | Northampton Town | 25 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Preston North End | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | Norwich City | 30 September 1985 | 9 October 1985 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 3–0 | 5–1 | 8–1 | Hull City | 24 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Sheffield United | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–5 | Luton Town | 24 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Shrewsbury Town | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–3 | Huddersfield Town | 24 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Sunderland | 3–2 | 1–3 | 4–5 | Swindon Town | 24 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | Port Vale | 24 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| West Ham United | 3–0 | 3–2 | 6–2 | Swansea City | 24 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Wimbledon | 5–0 | 1–2 | 6–2 | Blackburn Rovers | 24 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |
| Wrexham | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | Stoke City | 24 September 1985 | 8 October 1985 |

## Third round

A total of 32 teams took part in the Third Round, all 32 winners from round two. Unlike the previous two rounds, this round was played over one leg.

### Ties

| Home team | Result | Away team | Date |
| Birmingham City | 1–1 | Southampton | 29 October 1985 |
| Chelsea | 1–1 | Fulham | 29 October 1985 |
| Coventry City | 0–0 | West Bromwich Albion | 29 October 1985 |
| Derby County | 1–2 | Nottingham Forest | 30 October 1985 |
| Grimsby Town | 0–2 | Ipswich Town | 29 October 1985 |
| Leeds United | 0–3 | Aston Villa | 30 October 1985 |
| Liverpool | 4–0 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 29 October 1985 |
| Luton Town | 0–2 | Norwich City | 29 October 1985 |
| Manchester City | 1–2 | Arsenal | 30 October 1985 |
| Manchester United | 1–0 | West Ham United | 29 October 1985 |
| Oxford United | 3–1 | Newcastle United | 30 October 1985 |
| Portsmouth | 2–0 | Stoke City | 29 October 1985 |
| Shrewsbury Town | 1–4 | Everton | 29 October 1985 |
| Swindon Town | 1–0 | Sheffield Wednesday | 29 October 1985 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2–0 | Wimbledon | 6 November 1985 |
| Watford | 0–1 | Queens Park Rangers | 29 October 1985 |

### Replays

| Home team | Result | Away team | Date |
| Southampton | 3–0 | Birmingham City | 6 November 1985 |
| Fulham | 0–1 | Chelsea | 6 November 1985 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 4–3 | Coventry City | 6 November 1985 |

## Fourth round

A total of 16 teams took part in the Fourth Round, all 16 winners from round three. Once again this round was played over one leg.

### Ties

| Home team | Result | Away team | Date |
| Arsenal | 0–0 | Southampton | 19 November 1985 |
| Aston Villa | 2–2 | West Bromwich Albion | 19 November 1985 |
| Chelsea | 2–2 | Everton | 26 November 1985 |
| Ipswich Town | 6–1 | Swindon Town | 26 November 1985 |
| Liverpool | 2–1 | Manchester United | 26 November 1985 |
| Oxford United | 3–1 | Norwich City | 19 November 1985 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 3–1 | Nottingham Forest | 25 November 1985 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 0–0 | Portsmouth | 19 November 1985 |

### Replays

| Home team | Result | Away team | Date |
| Southampton | 0–3 | Arsenal | 26 November 1985 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 1–2 | Aston Villa | 26 November 1985 |
| Everton | 1–2 | Chelsea | 10 December 1985 |
| Portsmouth | 0–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 26 November 1985 |

### 2nd Replay

| Home team | Result | Away team | Date |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 0–1 | Portsmouth | 10 December 1985 |

## Fifth round

The eight winners from the Fourth Round took part in the Fifth Round. Once again this round was played over one leg.

### Ties

| Home team | Result | Away team | Date |
| Aston Villa | 1–1 | Arsenal | 22 January 1986 |
| Liverpool | 3–0 | Ipswich Town | 21 January 1986 |
| Oxford United | 3–1 | Portsmouth | 22 January 1986 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 1–1 | Chelsea | 22 January 1986 |

### Replays

| Home team | Result | Away team | Date |
| Arsenal | 1–2 | Aston Villa | 4 February 1986 |
| Chelsea | 0–2 after extra time | Queens Park Rangers | 29 January 1986 |

## Semi-finals

As with the first two rounds, the semi-final ties were played over two legs. Favourites Liverpool, in search of a unique domestic treble, were surprisingly beaten by QPR, while Oxford United eased past Aston Villa in the other semi-final.

### Second leg

QPR win 3–2 on aggregate
Oxford win 4–3 on aggregate