1986-87 Season - November

The visit of newly promoted Oxford City saw the SJ crowd dip below the 20,000 mark

Having conceded 10 goals in their last two away games the visitors adopted a cautious approach leaving only John Aldridge upfront. But with former player John Trewick and future player Kevin Brock controlling midfield United offered little; indeed Oxford's breakaways looked more likely to end in goals.

Gascoigne in particular had a poor game and received plenty of stick from the crowd before being substituted with 15 minutes to go.

The players left the field to a chorus of boos and chants of "what a load of rubbish".

After the game a couple of hundred fans massed outside the main entrance - despite the torrential rain - to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the board.

The fans mood was not helped by the fact that the club had announced that they had made a £250,000 profit for the second year in the row.

By the time United went to a pitifully empty Filbert Street McFaul had signed Paul Goddard from West Ham and he made his debut in place of Cunningham. And after helping United end a run of four successive defeats on their travels he confidently claimed "we won't go down".

Goddard was inspirational in a much improved performance and United led 1-0 at half-time through a Neil McDonald penalty.

Leicester equalised in the Second Half but United were full value for the point.

Four thousands extra fans turned up to see their new centre-forward's home debut and they were immediately impressed by his intelligent and hard working display.

But despite a number of decent efforts he could not get a goal and United were only saved from defeat by another McDonald penalty three minutes from time.

Newcastle had started well but were easily contained by the newly promoted Hornets in the first period.

After the break The Magpies were more purposeful, but it was the visitors who took the lead from the penalty spot [72]. Anderson equalised six minutes later but Blisset restored the visitors lead almost immediately before the late penalty brought United level again

United picked up their first away victory at Stamford Bridge against a Chelsea side who had made almost as bad a start as United. Notice that the match attracted a sub 15,000 crowd. It was only their second victory there in 32 years and was our first victory in London since we were promoted

The Novocastrians got off to a shaky start and it was no surprise when Gordon Durie opened his Chelsea account to put The Pensioners ahead midway through the First Half. The visitors were struggling not to concede more but got a lifeline when Andy Thomas broke away and scored just before the interval.

Darren Jackson replaced the injured Anderson at half-time and proved to be an inspirational figure with his all action performance. United gradually gained the ascendancy and Thomas got a second before Beardsley grabbed what was only his second goal in 19 matches.

The Hammers had made an excellent start to the season and were in fourth place. The sunny Sunday match was broadcast live on ITV although United's poor start to the season had led the broadcasting company to try and get out of the deal in the build up to the game

United refused to cancel and confounded their critics with a masterful performance and a resounding victory. John Lyall - West Ham's manager - was generous in his praise "Newcastle deserve every credit, they outfought and outplayed us".

Both sides created chances as United gave as gooda as they got in the early stages. A couple of bangers went off in The Gallowgate and seemed to spur United to further efforts.

An excellent run and cross from Paul Stephenosn (playing on the left) was headed in at the far post by [29] and three minutes later Thomas also headed in from close range after he was set up by a Beardsley cross.

The United were well on top and Goddard just missed by a whisker before a clach with West Ham full-back Parris saw him led off with a head wound just before half time.

In the Second Half a yong Paul Ince came on and both sides continued to create chances.

All the team were playing well combining skill with prodigous industry; none more so than Beardsley who was playing infront of England manager Bobby Robson. It was Beardsley's brilliant run and shot which was saved by Parkes which gave Darren Jackson the chance to stab the ball home for United's third [66].

Nine minutes from time Andy Thomas netted a fourth and the victory lifted United four places to 18th.