Barclays League Division Two
Saturday, May 7, 1988

Swindon Town Aston Villa

HT: 0-0
Attendance:  10,959    



 
Thousands of Villa fans descend on the County Ground for the final game of the season - one point behind second placed Middlesbrough, and level with Bradford, the Villans assume victory is required to stand any change of promotion. With the game still goalless as the game approaches its climax, the away supporters begin to throw coins at the Town fans - until they discover that both Boro and Bradford have been defeated at home - on the same points and goal difference as Middlesbrough, Villa are promoted by virtue of five more goals scored.



 
Thousands of Villa fans descend on the County Ground for the final game of the season - one point behind second placed Middlesbrough, and level with Bradford, the Villans assume victory is required to stand any change of promotion. With the game still goalless as the game approaches its climax, the away supporters begin to throw coins at the Town fans - until they discover that both Boro and Bradford have been defeated at home - on the same points and goal difference as Middlesbrough, Villa are promoted by virtue of five more goals scored.




Lineups
1
Fraser DIGBY
                 
  Nigel SPINK
1
2
David HOCKADAY
                 
Kevin GAGE
2
3
Phil KING
                 
Bernard GALLACHER
3
4
Kieran O'REGAN  
                 
  view STFC profileAndy GRAY
4
5
Tim PARKIN
                 
  Allan EVANS
5
6
Colin CALDERWOOD  
                 
Steve SIMS
6

7
Dave BAMBER
                 
Paul BIRCH
7

8
Jon GITTENS
                 
Warren ASPINALL
8
9
Jimmy QUINN  
                 
Garry THOMPSON
9
10
Steve FOLEY
                 
Stuart GRAY
10
11
Steve WHITE
                 
  David PLATT
11
Substitutes
12
Bobby BARNES
                 
  Tony DALEY
12
14
Alan MCLOUGHLIN  
                 
  Alan MCINALLY
14













Results on Saturday, May 7, 1988: League Table

 
  Bradford City 2 - 3 Ipswich Town  
  Crystal Palace 2 - 0 Manchester City  
  Huddersfield Town 0 - 2 Sheffield United  
  Middlesbrough 1 - 2 Leicester City  
  Millwall 1 - 4 Blackburn Rovers  
  Oldham Athletic 2 - 0 AFC Bournemouth   
  Reading 0 - 0 Hull City  
  Shrewsbury Town 2 - 1 Plymouth Argyle  
  Swindon Town 0 - 0 Aston Villa  
  West Bromwich Albion 2 - 2 Barnsley  

Final table:
  TEAM P W D L F A GD Pts 
1 Millwall 44 25 7 12 72 52 20 82 
2 Aston Villa 44 22 12 10 68 41 27 78 
3 Middlesbrough 44 22 12 10 63 36 27 78 
4 Bradford City 44 22 11 11 74 54 20 77 
5 Blackburn Rovers 44 21 14 9 68 52 16 77 
6 Crystal Palace 44 22 9 13 86 59 27 75 
7 Leeds United 44 19 12 13 61 51 10 69 
8 Ipswich Town 44 19 9 16 61 52 9 66 
9 Manchester City 44 19 8 17 80 60 20 65 
10 Oldham Athletic 44 18 11 15 72 64 8 65 
11 Stoke City 44 17 11 16 50 57 -7 62 
12 Swindon Town 44 16 11 17 73 60 13 59 
13 Leicester City 44 16 11 17 62 61 1 59 
14 Barnsley 44 15 12 17 61 62 -1 57 
15 Hull City 44 14 15 15 54 60 -6 57 
16 Plymouth Argyle 44 16 8 20 65 67 -2 56 
17 AFC Bournemouth 44 13 10 21 56 68 -12 49 
18 Shrewsbury Town 44 11 16 17 42 54 -12 49 
19 Birmingham City 44 11 15 18 41 66 -25 48 
20 West Bromwich Albion 44 12 11 21 50 69 -19 47 
21 Sheffield United 44 13 7 24 45 74 -29 46 
22 Reading 44 10 12 22 44 70 -26 42 
23 Huddersfield Town 44 6 10 28 41 100 -59 28 

Key: Promoted Promoted via Play-offs Play-offs Relegated after Play-offs Relegated