# 1986–87 Manchester City F.C. season

The 1986–87 season was Manchester City's 85th season in existence and 65th season in the top division of English football. In addition to the First Division, they competed in the FA Cup, Football League Cup and Full Members' Cup. City were relegated to the Second Division after finishing 21st in the league table.

## First Division
### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | 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 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 22 | Aston Villa (R) | 42 | 8 | 12 | 22 | 45 | 79 | −34 | 36 | Relegation to the Second Division |

### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Source:

### Results by matchday

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
| Ground | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | W | D | L | D | L | D | D | L | L | L | L | D | D | W | W | L | L | L | W | D | W | L | D | W | L | D | D | D | L | L | L | D | L | D | L | D | L | L | W | D | W | L |

### Matches

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 23 August 1986 | Wimbledon | H | Maine Road | 3-1 | Baker (2), Christie | 20,756 |
| 25 August 1986 | Liverpool | A | Anfield | 0-0 | | 39,989 |
| 30 August 1986 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | White Hart Lane | 1-0 | | 23,764 |
| 3 September 1986 | Norwich City | H | Maine Road | 2-2 | Christie (2) | 19,122 |
| 6 September 1986 | Coventry City | H | Maine Road | 0-1 | | 18,320 |
| 13 September 1986 | Oxford United | A | Manor Ground | 0-0 | | 8,245 |
| 20 September 1986 | Queens Park Rangers | H | Maine Road | 0-0 | | 17,774 |
| 27 September 1986 | Luton Town | A | Kenilworth Road | 1-0 | | 9,371 |
| 4 October 1986 | Leicester City | H | Maine Road | 1-2 | Hopkins | 18,033 |
| 11 October 1986 | Newcastle United | A | St James' Park | 1-3 | Simpson | 21,780 |
| 18 October 1986 | Chelsea | A | Stamford Bridge | 1-2 | Varadi | 12,990 |
| 26 October 1986 | Manchester United | H | Maine Road | 1-1 | McCarthy | 32,440 |
| 1 November 1986 | Southampton | A | The Dell | 1-1 | Baker | 14,352 |
| 8 November 1986 | Aston Villa | H | Maine Road | 3-1 | Moulden (2), Varadi | 22,875 |
| 15 November 1986 | Charlton Athletic | H | Maine Road | 2-1 | Moulden, Simpson | 20,578 |
| 22 November 1986 | Arsenal | A | Highbury | 0-3 | | 29,009 |
| 29 November 1986 | Everton | H | Maine Road | 1-3 | Moulden | 27,097 |
| 6 December 1986 | Nottingham Forest | A | City Ground | 0-2 | | 19,129 |
| 13 December 1986 | West Ham United | H | Maine Road | 3-1 | White, Varadi (2) | 19,067 |
| 21 December 1986 | Coventry City | A | Highfield Road | 2-2 | Redmond (2) | 12,430 |
| 26 December 1986 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | Maine Road | 1-0 | Simpson | 30,193 |
| 28 December 1986 | Charlton Athletic | A | The Valley | 0-5 | | 7,697 |
| 1 January 1987 | Watford | A | Vicarage Road | 1-1 | Varadi | 15,514 |
| 3 January 1987 | Oxford United | H | Maine Road | 1-0 | McNab (pen) | 20,724 |
| 17 January 1987 | Liverpool | H | Maine Road | 0-1 | | 35,336 |
| 24 January 1987 | Wimbledon | A | Plough Lane | 0-0 | | 5,667 |
| 14 February 1987 | Norwich City | A | Maine Road | 1-1 | I. Brightwell | 16,094 |
| 21 February 1987 | Luton Town | H | Maine Road | 1-1 | Lake | 17,507 |
| 28 February 1987 | Queens Park Rangers | A | Loftus Road | 0-1 | | 12,739 |
| 7 March 1987 | Manchester United | A | Old Trafford | 0-2 | | 48,619 |
| 14 March 1987 | Chelsea | H | Maine Road | 1-2 | McNab (pen) | 19,819 |
| 21 March 1987 | Newcastle United | H | Maine Road | 0-0 | | 23,060 |
| 28 March 1987 | Leicester City | A | Filbert Street | 4-0 | | 10,743 |
| 4 April 1987 | Aston Villa | A | Villa Park | 0-0 | | 18,241 |
| 11 April 1987 | Southampton | H | Maine Road | 2-4 | Stewart, Moulden | 18,193 |
| 15 April 1987 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | Maine Road | 1-1 | McNab (pen) | 21,460 |
| 18 April 1987 | Watford | H | Maine Road | 1-2 | McNab (pen) | 18,541 |
| 20 April 1987 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | Hillsborough | 2-1 | Varadi | 19,769 |
| 25 April 1987 | Arsenal | H | Maine Road | 3-0 | Varadi (2), Stewart | 18,072 |
| 2 May 1987 | Everton | A | Goodison Park | 0-0 | | 37,541 |
| 4 May 1987 | Nottingham Forest | H | Maine Road | 1-0 | Varadi | 21,405 |
| 9 May 1987 | West Ham United | A | Boleyn Ground | 0-2 | | 18,413 |