The 1988-89 season was a challenging one for Leeds United, marked by managerial changes and a struggle for consistent performance. Fans hoped for a stronger showing, but the season would ultimately see the team finish in mid-table.
Managerial Turmoil
Early Struggles and Coaching Changes
Leeds United began the season poorly, securing only six points from the first six games. The situation led to the sacking of long-time club legend Billy Bremner on 28 September 1988. A brief caretaker period followed under Peter Gunby, who managed the team until 10 October 1988.
On 12 October 1988, Leeds appointed Howard Wilkinson as the new head coach. His arrival marked a turning point, bringing fresh tactics and hope for improvement.
Mid-Season Improvement
Climbing the League Table
Under Wilkinson’s guidance, Leeds began to find their form. By December, the team had climbed to mid-table, sitting in 6th place by mid-February. During this period, they lost only two league matches, showcasing a notable turnaround in performance.
Key Player Contributions
The addition of players such as Gordon Strachan, Chris Fairclough, and Carl Shutt strengthened the squad. Their contributions were vital as Leeds returned to 6th place by 1 April.
Late Season Struggles
A Dismal Finish
Despite the promising mid-season results, Leeds’ form dipped dramatically. A winless streak in late February and early March saw them fall to 12th place in the league table. Unfortunately, the team only managed to secure 11 points from their last eight games, which ultimately led to a disappointing 10th place finish by the end of the season.
Top Scorer
Bobby Davison’s Impact
The standout performer for Leeds that season was Bobby Davison, who emerged as the club’s top scorer, netting 17 goals throughout the campaign. His contributions were crucial, providing the team with much-needed goals during a tumultuous season.
Conclusion
The 1988-89 season for Leeds United was one of instability and gradual improvement, ultimately leading to a mid-table finish. While the hopes for promotion were dashed, the foundation was laid for future successes under Howard Wilkinson’s management. The lessons learned during this campaign would influence the club’s direction in the years to come.
As Leeds United fans look back, they remember the struggles of this season as a pivotal moment in the club’s journey.
Second Division 1988-89 Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 46 | 29 | 12 | 5 | 96 | 50 | +46 | 99 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 46 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 77 | 53 | +24 | 82 |
| 3 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 71 | 49 | +22 | 81 |
| 4 | Watford | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 74 | 48 | +26 | 78 |
| 5 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 74 | 59 | +15 | 77 |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 68 | 53 | +15 | 76 |
| 7 | Barnsley | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 66 | 58 | +8 | 74 |
| 8 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 22 | 7 | 17 | 71 | 61 | +10 | 73 |
| 9 | West Bromwich Albion | 46 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 65 | 41 | +24 | 72 |
| 10 | Leeds United | 46 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 59 | 50 | +9 | 67 |
| 11 | Sunderland | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 60 | 60 | 0 | 63 |
| 12 | Bournemouth | 46 | 18 | 8 | 20 | 53 | 62 | −9 | 62 |
| 13 | Stoke City | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 57 | 72 | −15 | 59 |
| 14 | Bradford City | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 52 | 59 | −7 | 56 |
| 15 | Leicester City | 46 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 56 | 63 | −7 | 55 |
| 16 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 11 | 21 | 14 | 75 | 72 | +3 | 54 |
| 17 | Oxford United | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 62 | 70 | −8 | 54 |
| 18 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 55 | 66 | −11 | 54 |
| 19 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 57 | 66 | −9 | 51 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 53 | 62 | −9 | 51 |
| 21 | Hull City | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 52 | 68 | −16 | 47 |
| 22 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 8 | 18 | 20 | 40 | 67 | −27 | 42 |
| 23 | Birmingham City | 46 | 8 | 11 | 27 | 31 | 76 | −45 | 35 |
| 24 | Walsall | 46 | 5 | 16 | 25 | 41 | 80 | −39 | 31 |
Leeds United 1988-89 Fixtures and Results
| Competition | Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League Division Two | 27 Aug 1988 | Leeds United v Oxford United | D | 1-1 |
| League Division Two | 03 Sep 1988 | Portsmouth v Leeds United | L | 0-4 |
| League Division Two | 10 Sep 1988 | Leeds United v Manchester City | D | 1-1 |
| League Division Two | 17 Sep 1988 | AFC Bournemouth v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division Two | 21 Sep 1988 | Leeds United v Barnsley | W | 2-0 |
| League Division Two | 24 Sep 1988 | Leeds United v Chelsea | L | 0-2 |
| League Cup | 27 Sep 1988 | Peterborough United v Leeds United | W | 2-1 |
| League Division Two | 01 Oct 1988 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Leeds United | L | 1-2 |
| League Division Two | 04 Oct 1988 | Sunderland v Leeds United | L | 1-2 |
| League Division Two | 08 Oct 1988 | Leeds United v Watford | L | 0-1 |
| League Cup | 12 Oct 1988 | Leeds United v Peterborough United | W | 3-1 (Agg: 5-2) |
| League Division Two | 16 Oct 1988 | Swindon Town v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division Two | 22 Oct 1988 | Leeds United v Leicester City | D | 1-1 |
| League Division Two | 26 Oct 1988 | Bradford City v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Division Two | 29 Oct 1988 | Leeds United v Hull City | W | 2-1 |
| League Cup | 02 Nov 1988 | Leeds United v Luton Town | L | 0-2 |
| League Division Two | 05 Nov 1988 | Ipswich Town v Leeds United | W | 1-0 |
| Simod Cup | 09 Nov 1988 | Leeds United v Shrewsbury Town | W | 3-1 |
| League Division Two | 12 Nov 1988 | Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion | W | 2-1 |
| League Division Two | 19 Nov 1988 | Oldham Athletic v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| League Division Two | 22 Nov 1988 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division Two | 26 Nov 1988 | Leeds United v Stoke City | W | 4-0 |
| Simod Cup | 29 Nov 1988 | Millwall v Leeds United | L | 0-2 |
| League Division Two | 03 Dec 1988 | Walsall v Leeds United | W | 3-0 |
| League Division Two | 10 Dec 1988 | Leeds United v Shrewsbury Town | L | 2-3 |
| League Division Two | 17 Dec 1988 | Crystal Palace v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Division Two | 26 Dec 1988 | Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers | W | 2-0 |
| League Division Two | 31 Dec 1988 | Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle | W | 2-0 |
| League Division Two | 02 Jan 1989 | Manchester City v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| FA Cup | 07 Jan 1989 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Leeds United | W | 2-1 |
| League Division Two | 14 Jan 1989 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | W | 1-0 |
| League Division Two | 21 Jan 1989 | Oxford United v Leeds United | L | 2-3 |
| FA Cup | 28 Jan 1989 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | L | 0-2 |
| League Division Two | 04 Feb 1989 | Leeds United v Sunderland | W | 2-0 |
| League Division Two | 11 Feb 1989 | Watford v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Division Two | 18 Feb 1989 | Leicester City v Leeds United | W | 2-1 |
| League Division Two | 25 Feb 1989 | Leeds United v Swindon Town | D | 0-0 |
| League Division Two | 01 Mar 1989 | Leeds United v Bradford City | D | 3-3 |
| League Division Two | 05 Mar 1989 | West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United | L | 1-2 |
| League Division Two | 11 Mar 1989 | Leeds United v Ipswich Town | L | 2-4 |
| League Division Two | 14 Mar 1989 | Hull City v Leeds United | W | 2-1 |
| League Division Two | 19 Mar 1989 | Barnsley v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| League Division Two | 25 Mar 1989 | Leeds United v Portsmouth | W | 1-0 |
| League Division Two | 27 Mar 1989 | Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United | L | 0-2 |
| League Division Two | 01 Apr 1989 | Leeds United v AFC Bournemouth | W | 3-0 |
| League Division Two | 05 Apr 1989 | Crystal Palace v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Division Two | 09 Apr 1989 | Plymouth Argyle v Leeds United | L | 0-1 |
| League Division Two | 15 Apr 1989 | Leeds United v Brighton and Hove Albion | W | 1-0 |
| League Division Two | 22 Apr 1989 | Chelsea v Leeds United | L | 0-1 |
| League Division Two | 29 Apr 1989 | Stoke City v Leeds United | W | 3-2 |
| League Division Two | 01 May 1989 | Leeds United v Walsall | W | 1-0 |
| League Division Two | 06 May 1989 | Leeds United v Oldham Athletic | D | 0-0 |
| League Division Two | 13 May 1989 | Shrewsbury Town v Leeds United | D | 3-3 |
