1992–93 Middlesbrough F.C. season explained

Club:Middlesbrough
Season:1992–93
Manager:Lennie Lawrence
Chairman:Colin Henderson
Stadium:Ayresome Park
League:Premier League
League Result:21st (relegated)
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Fourth round
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:Second round
League Topscorer:Wilkinson (15)
Average Attendance:16,724
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Prevseason:1991–92
Nextseason:1993–94

During the 1992–93 English football season, Middlesbrough competed in the inaugural season of the Premier League. It was Middlesbrough's first season in the top flight since relegation in 1988; Middlesbrough regained promotion to England's top flight by finishing second in the old Second Division (renamed the First Division after the foundation of the Premier League).

Season summary

Middlesbrough enjoyed a good start to the season, winning four of their first seven games – including a superb 4–1 home win over Yorkshire rivals and reigning champions Leeds United – a run that sent them sixth in the table. Unfortunately, they couldn't quite keep up the momentum but still, up to their thrilling 3–2 victory over Blackburn Rovers on 5 December 1992, they enjoyed stable mid-table form, winning six, drawing six and losing six of their first 18 games. Unfortunately, three consecutive draws followed and from then, starting from a 1–0 home defeat to strugglers Crystal Palace before the new year, the club struggled and went into freefall during the entire second half of the season, winning just three of their next 18 fixtures and picking up just ten points from a possible 54, a run that ultimately resulted in the club's relegation looking inevitable with three matches left.

However, a 3–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur gave them a very slim glimmer of hope for an unlikely survival; on the other hand, they would never look like pulling off the 'great escape' that relegation rivals Oldham Athletic would soon perfect. With just two matches left, they were already three points adrift of Sheffield United and five adrift of Crystal Palace, both having a game in hand. Despite a 3–2 win at Sheffield Wednesday, results went against them: Palace beating Ipswich Town 3–1, Sheffield United condemning Nottingham Forest to relegation by winning 2–0 at the City Ground and Oldham stunning title chasers Aston Villa 1–0 at Villa Park which also saw Manchester United clinching their first top-flight title for 26 years. With these results, Middlesbrough were left with a virtually impossible survival task, with only one game left and were three points adrift of Sheffield United who had two games left with a vastly superior goal difference of −3 against Boro's −21. They needed the Blades to lose both of their final games with a miracle 18-goal swing and to beat third-placed Norwich City in their final game for any chance of survival. Sadly, Boro's relegation was confirmed before a ball was kicked on their closing fixture as the Blades beat Everton 2–0 at Goodison Park. A 3–3 draw with Norwich City for Boro at least meant that they finished a difficult season on a high note in the final three games, going down fighting, and it gave them a glimpse of positivity in gaining promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt for next season. They finished in 21st place, five points adrift of safety.

Kit

Middlesbrough's kit was manufactured by Admiral. The shirt sponsor was Imperial Chemical Industries.

Final league table

See main article: 1992–93 FA Premier League.

Results

Premier League

Date OpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F–A
Scorers
15 August 1992Coventry CityA1–2Wilkinson
19 August 1992Manchester CityH2–0Slaven (2)
22 August 1992LeedsH4–1Wilkinson (2), Wright, Hendrie
29 August 1992SouthamptonA1–2Wilkinson
1 September 1992IpswichH2–2Kernaghan, Wilkinson
5 September 1992Sheffield UnitedH2–0Falconer, Wright
12 September 1992Manchester CityA1–0Own Goal
19 September 1992Queens Park RangersA3–3Kernaghan, Wright, Falconer
26 September 1992Aston VillaH2–3Slaven, Own Goal
3 October 1992Manchester UnitedH1–1Slaven
17 October 1992Tottenham HotspurA2–2Mustoe, Wilkinson
21 October 1992Nottingham ForestA0–1
24 October 1992Sheffield WednesdayH1–1Wilkinson
31 October 1992Norwich CityA1–1Wilkinson
7 November 1992LiverpoolA1–4Phillips
21 November 1992WimbledonH2–0Hendrie, Morris
28 November 1992Oldham AthleticA1–4Falconer
5 December 1992Blackburn RoversH3–2Hendrie (3)
11 December 1992ChelseaH0–0
19 December 1992ArsenalA1–1Own Goal
26 December 1992EvertonA2–2Hignett (2)
28 December 1992Crystal PalaceH0–1
9 January 1993Queens Park RangersH0–1
17 January 1993Aston VillaA1–5Hignett
26 January 1993SouthamptonH2–1Mohan, Wilkinson
30 January 1993Leeds UnitedA0–3
6 February 1993Coventry CityH0–2
9 February 1993Sheffield UnitedA0–2
20 February 1993Nottingham ForestH1–2Phillips
27 February 1993Manchester UnitedA0–3
2 March 1993Ipswich TownA1–0Wilkinson
9 March 1993WimbledonA0–2
13 March 1993LiverpoolH1–2Own Goal
20 March 1993Blackburn RoversA1–1Hendrie
22 March 1993Oldham AthleticH2–3Mohan, Hignett
3 April 1993ChelseaA0–4
6 April 1993ArsenalH1–0Hendrie
10 April 1993EvertonH1–2Wilkinson
12 April 1993Crystal PalaceA1–4Wilkinson
20 April 1993Tottenham HotspurH3–0Wright (2), Wilkinson
1 May 1993Sheffield WednesdayA3–2Falconer, Pollock, Hendrie
8 May 1993Norwich CityH3–3Falconer, Wilkinson, Hendrie

FA Cup

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
Scorers
13 January 1993Round 3ChelseaH2–1Wright, Falconer
23 January 1993Round 4Nottingham ForestA1–1Falconer
3 February 1992Round 4 replayNottingham ForestH0–3

Coca Cola Cup

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
Scorers
23 September 1992Round 2
First leg
Newcastle UnitedA0–0
7 October 1992Round 2
Second leg
Newcastle UnitedH1–3Wilkinson

First-team squad

[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: All Middlesbrough players: 1993. www.11v11.com.