1986-87 Season - December
Summary
A good start to the month with an away drawn at Charlton and a win over second placed Forest saw United move up to 15th and it looked as though the corner had been turned.
But three defetas in six days including a mauling at home from The Toffees on Boxing Day resulted in us tumbling back down again.
We also lost 5-2 at Goodison Park in our first ever match in the Full Members Cup after being 4-0 down at half-time.
Diary
| 1986/87 | 6th Dec | Div 1 | Charlton [A] | Drew | 1-1 [0-1] | 7,333 |
- Thomas M
- Anderson [s]
- Wharton
- McCreery
- Jackson P
- Roeder
- McDonald
- Thomas A
- Goddard [1]
- Beardsley
- Jackson D
- Nisbet [s2]
Charlton had lost five in a row and were just below Newcastle in the table. Less than 8,000 turned up at The Valley to see United and it took an 79th minute goal from Goddard (at last breaking his duck) to secure an ill deserved point for the visitors.
The Magpies never got going and it was a back to the walls performance in which Wharton and McCreery excelled. Newcastle had looked done for when captain Roeder turned the ball into his own net just before half-time and they did little to suggest they might get back into the game before Goddard's bolt from the blue.
Anderson had to make a premature exit allowing eighteen year old Nisbet to make his debut. We moved up to 16th
| 1986/87 | 13th Dec | Div 1 | Nottm F [H] | Won | 3-2 [1-1] | 26,191 |
- Thomas M
- McDonald
- Wharton [1]
- McCreery
- Jackson P
- Roeder
- Stephenson
- Thomas A [1]
- Goddard
- Beardsley [1]
- Jackson D [s]
- Nisbet [s11]
Brian Clough's second placed team controlled the game for long periods, but it was United who grabbed all three points in an entertaining match at SJP.
Wharton started and ended the move that put Newcastle ahead [16] and it stayed that way until three minutes before the break when Starbuck levelled.
Forest stayed on top in the second period and it was against the run of play when Thomas scored a typical hard running goal. Forest hit back but a brilliant run by Beardsley (from the half way line) nine minutes from time just about sowed it up.
Franz Carr pulled one back after a careless McDonald pass back however United held on for a victory that took them up to 15th.
| 1986/87 | 21st Dec | Div 1 | Sheff Wed [A] | Lost | 0-2 [0-2] | 28,897 |
- Thomas M
- McDonald
- Wharton [1]
- Nisbet
- Jackson P
- Roeder
- Stephenson
- Thomas A
- Goddard
- Beardsley
- Jackson D
- Stewart
There was a large United contingent at Hillsborough to see United take on The Wednesday. McCreery's absence allowed Nesbit to make his full debut; unfortunately for him it also proved to be his last senior game for the club.
High flying Wednesday made a blistering start and were two goals to the good within twenty minutes with Chapman and Bradshaw both finding the net.
The visitors never recovered and although there were no more goals they returned home well beaten.
| 1986/87 | 26th Dec | Div 1 | Everton [H] | Lost | 0-4 [0-1] | 35,079 |
- Thomas M
- McDonald
- Wharton [1]
- Wrightson
- Jackson P
- Roeder
- Stephenson [s]
- Thomas A
- Goddard
- Beardsley
- Jackson D
- Stewart [s7]
There was another tough match on Boxing Day when 4th paced Everon visited Toon.
Eighteen year old Jeff Wrightson was the next youngster thrown in to help fill the huge gap left by little McCreery.
Everton were just at the start of a purple patch that would bring 20 goals in 7 successive victories and they outclassed United in no uncertain style.
Paul Power, Adrian Heath and a brace from Berwick born Trevor Steven resulted in United suffering their joint worst ever Boxing Day defeat.
United slumped back down into 20th.
| 1986/87 | 27th Dec | Div 1 | Watford [A] | Lost | 0-1 [0-1] | 18,011 |
- Thomas M
- McDonald
- Wharton [1]
- Wrightson
- Jackson P
- Roeder
- Stephenson [s]
- Thomas A
- Goddard
- Beardsley
- Jackson D
- Stewart [s7]
Undaunted and with little alternative anyway McFaul stuck with the same eleven for the visit to Vicarage Road. The 1-0 defeat made it three losses in six days without a single goal scored.
John Barnes gave The Hornets the lead in their first meaningful attack [10] and despite plenty of possession a subdued United attack couldn't find an equaliser.
United were now one off the bottom in 21st