| Pos | Team | P | Home | Away | Total | Pts | GD | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | |||||
| 1 | Liverpool | 40 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 49 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 38 | 15 | 26 | 12 | 2 | 87 | 24 | 90 | 63 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 40 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 41 | 17 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 30 | 21 | 23 | 12 | 5 | 71 | 38 | 81 | 33 |
| 3 | Nottingham Forest | 40 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 40 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 27 | 22 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 67 | 39 | 73 | 28 |
| 4 | Everton | 40 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 34 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 53 | 27 | 70 | 26 |
| 5 | Queens Park Rangers | 40 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 24 | 19 | 10 | 11 | 48 | 38 | 67 | 10 |
| 6 | Arsenal | 40 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 35 | 16 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 23 | 23 | 18 | 12 | 10 | 58 | 39 | 66 | 19 |
| 7 | Wimbledon | 40 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 32 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 26 | 27 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 58 | 47 | 57 | 11 |
| 8 | Newcastle United | 40 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 32 | 23 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 55 | 53 | 56 | 2 |
| 9 | Luton Town | 40 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 40 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 37 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 57 | 58 | 53 | -1 |
| 10 | Coventry City | 40 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 23 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 28 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 46 | 53 | 53 | -7 |
| 11 | Sheffield Wednesday | 40 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 27 | 30 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 25 | 36 | 15 | 8 | 17 | 52 | 66 | 53 | -14 |
| 12 | Southampton | 40 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 27 | 26 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 27 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 49 | 53 | 50 | -4 |
| 13 | Tottenham Hotspur | 40 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 25 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 38 | 48 | 47 | -10 |
| 14 | Norwich City | 40 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 26 | 26 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 26 | 12 | 9 | 19 | 40 | 52 | 45 | -12 |
| 15 | Derby County | 40 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 17 | 28 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 35 | 45 | 43 | -10 |
| 16 | West Ham United | 40 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 23 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 31 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 40 | 52 | 42 | -12 |
| 17 | Charlton Athletic | 40 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 23 | 21 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 31 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 38 | 52 | 42 | -14 |
| 18 | Chelsea | 40 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 24 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 26 | 51 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 50 | 68 | 42 | -18 |
| 19 | Portsmouth | 40 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 27 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 15 | 39 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 36 | 66 | 35 | -30 |
| 20 | Watford | 40 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 24 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 27 | 7 | 11 | 22 | 27 | 51 | 32 | -24 |
| 21 | Oxford United | 40 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 24 | 34 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 46 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 44 | 80 | 31 | -36 |
| Semi-finals | ||||
| Sun 15 May 1988 | Bradford City v Middlesbrough | 2โ1 | aet | Valley Parade ยท 16,017 |
| Sun 15 May 1988 | Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea | 0โ2 | aet | Ewood Park ยท 16,578 |
| Wed 18 May 1988 | Middlesbrough v Bradford City | 2โ0 | aet | Ayresome Park ยท 25,868 |
| Middlesbrough 3โ2 Bradford City (on aggregate โ Middlesbrough advance) | ||||
| Wed 18 May 1988 | Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers | 4โ1 | aet | Stamford Bridge ยท 22,757 |
| Blackburn Rovers 1โ6 Chelsea (on aggregate โ Chelsea advance) | ||||
| Final | ||||
| Wed 25 May 1988 | Middlesbrough v Chelsea | 2โ0 | aet | Ayresome Park ยท 25,381 |
| Sat 28 May 1988 | Chelsea v Middlesbrough | 0โ1 | aet | Stamford Bridge ยท 40,550 |
| ๐ Middlesbrough promoted to the First Division | ||||
| Pos | Team | P | Home | Away | Total | Pts | GD | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | |||||
| 1 | Millwall | 44 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 45 | 23 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 7 | 12 | 72 | 52 | 82 | 20 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 44 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 31 | 21 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 37 | 20 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 68 | 41 | 78 | 27 |
| 3 | Middlesbrough | 44 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 44 | 16 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 63 | 36 | 78 | 27 |
| 4 | Bradford City | 44 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 49 | 26 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 25 | 28 | 22 | 11 | 11 | 74 | 54 | 77 | 20 |
| 5 | Blackburn Rovers | 44 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 38 | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 30 | 30 | 21 | 14 | 9 | 68 | 52 | 77 | 16 |
| 6 | Crystal Palace | 44 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 50 | 21 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 36 | 38 | 22 | 9 | 13 | 86 | 59 | 75 | 27 |
| 7 | Leeds United | 44 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 37 | 18 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 19 | 12 | 13 | 61 | 51 | 69 | 10 |
| 8 | Ipswich Town | 44 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 38 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 23 | 35 | 19 | 9 | 16 | 61 | 52 | 66 | 9 |
| 9 | Manchester City | 44 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 50 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 30 | 32 | 19 | 8 | 17 | 80 | 60 | 65 | 20 |
| 10 | Oldham Athletic | 44 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 43 | 27 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 29 | 37 | 18 | 11 | 15 | 72 | 64 | 65 | 8 |
| 11 | Stoke City | 44 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 34 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 35 | 17 | 11 | 16 | 50 | 57 | 62 | -7 |
| 12 | Swindon Town | 44 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 43 | 25 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 30 | 35 | 16 | 11 | 17 | 73 | 60 | 59 | 13 |
| 13 | Leicester City | 44 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 27 | 41 | 16 | 11 | 17 | 62 | 61 | 59 | 1 |
| 14 | Barnsley | 44 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 42 | 32 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 19 | 30 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 61 | 62 | 57 | -1 |
| 15 | Hull City | 44 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 32 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 22 | 38 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 54 | 60 | 57 | -6 |
| 16 | Plymouth Argyle | 44 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 44 | 26 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 21 | 41 | 16 | 8 | 20 | 65 | 67 | 56 | -2 |
| 17 | AFC Bournemouth | 44 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 36 | 30 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 20 | 38 | 13 | 10 | 21 | 56 | 68 | 49 | -12 |
| 18 | Shrewsbury Town | 44 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 22 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 19 | 32 | 11 | 16 | 17 | 42 | 54 | 49 | -12 |
| 19 | Birmingham City | 44 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 20 | 24 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 21 | 42 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 41 | 66 | 48 | -25 |
| 20 | West Bromwich Albion | 44 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 29 | 26 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 21 | 43 | 12 | 11 | 21 | 50 | 69 | 47 | -19 |
| 21 | Sheffield United | 44 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 27 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 18 | 46 | 13 | 7 | 24 | 45 | 74 | 46 | -29 |
| 22 | Reading | 44 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 24 | 45 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 44 | 70 | 42 | -26 |
| 23 | Huddersfield Town | 44 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 38 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 21 | 62 | 6 | 10 | 28 | 41 | 100 | 28 | -59 |
| Semi-finals | ||||
| Sun 15 May 1988 | Notts County v Walsall | 1โ3 | aet | Meadow Lane ยท 11,522 |
| Sun 15 May 1988 | Bristol City v Sheffield United | 1โ0 | aet | Ashton Gate ยท 25,335 |
| Wed 18 May 1988 | Sheffield United v Bristol City | 1โ1 | aet | Bramall Lane ยท 19,066 |
| Sheffield United 1โ2 Bristol City (on aggregate โ Bristol City advance) | ||||
| Wed 18 May 1988 | Walsall v Notts County | 1โ1 | aet | Fellows Park ยท 8,901 |
| Notts County 2โ4 Walsall (on aggregate โ Walsall advance) | ||||
| Final | ||||
| Wed 25 May 1988 | Bristol City v Walsall | 1โ3 | aet | Ashton Gate ยท 25,128 |
| Sat 28 May 1988 | Walsall v Bristol City | 0โ2 | aet | Fellows Park ยท 13,941 |
| Final Replay | ||||
| Mon 30 May 1988 | Walsall v Bristol City | 4โ0 | aet | Fellows Park ยท 13,007 |
| ๐ Walsall promoted to the Second Division | ||||
| Pos | Team | P | Home | Away | Total | Pts | GD | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | |||||
| 1 | Sunderland | 46 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 51 | 22 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 41 | 26 | 27 | 12 | 7 | 92 | 48 | 93 | 44 |
| 2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 37 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 32 | 31 | 23 | 15 | 8 | 69 | 47 | 84 | 22 |
| 3 | Walsall | 46 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 39 | 22 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 29 | 28 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 68 | 50 | 82 | 18 |
| 4 | Notts County | 46 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 53 | 24 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 29 | 25 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 82 | 49 | 81 | 33 |
| 5 | Bristol City | 46 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 51 | 30 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 32 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 77 | 62 | 75 | 15 |
| 6 | Northampton Town | 46 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 36 | 18 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 34 | 33 | 18 | 19 | 9 | 70 | 51 | 73 | 19 |
| 7 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 36 | 23 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 34 | 38 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 70 | 61 | 72 | 9 |
| 8 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 43 | 19 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 25 | 37 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 68 | 56 | 66 | 12 |
| 9 | Fulham | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 36 | 24 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 33 | 36 | 19 | 9 | 18 | 69 | 60 | 66 | 9 |
| 10 | Blackpool | 46 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 45 | 27 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 26 | 35 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 71 | 62 | 65 | 9 |
| 11 | Port Vale | 46 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 36 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 22 | 37 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 58 | 56 | 65 | 2 |
| 12 | Brentford | 46 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 27 | 23 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 36 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 53 | 59 | 62 | -6 |
| 13 | Gillingham | 46 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 45 | 21 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 32 | 40 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 77 | 61 | 59 | 16 |
| 14 | Bury | 46 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 33 | 26 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 31 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 58 | 57 | 59 | 1 |
| 15 | Chester | 46 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 29 | 30 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 51 | 62 | 58 | -11 |
| 16 | Preston North End | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 30 | 23 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 36 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 48 | 59 | 58 | -11 |
| 17 | Southend United | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 42 | 33 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 23 | 50 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 65 | 83 | 55 | -18 |
| 18 | Chesterfield | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 16 | 42 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 41 | 70 | 55 | -29 |
| 19 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 21 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 23 | 38 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 48 | 59 | 54 | -11 |
| 20 | Aldershot Town | 46 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 45 | 32 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 19 | 42 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 64 | 74 | 53 | -10 |
| 21 | Rotherham United | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 28 | 25 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 22 | 41 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 50 | 66 | 52 | -16 |
| 22 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 29 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 23 | 29 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 48 | 58 | 50 | -10 |
| 23 | York City | 46 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 27 | 45 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 21 | 46 | 8 | 9 | 29 | 48 | 91 | 33 | -43 |
| 24 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 25 | 36 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 15 | 48 | 8 | 9 | 29 | 40 | 84 | 33 | -44 |
| Semi-finals | ||||
| Sun 15 May 1988 | Torquay United v Scunthorpe United | 2โ1 | aet | Plainmoor ยท 4,602 |
| Sun 15 May 1988 | Swansea City v Rotherham United | 1โ0 | aet | Vetch Field ยท 9,148 |
| Wed 18 May 1988 | Rotherham United v Swansea City | 1โ1 | aet | Millmoor ยท 5,568 |
| Rotherham United 1โ2 Swansea City (on aggregate โ Swansea City advance) | ||||
| Wed 18 May 1988 | Scunthorpe United v Torquay United | 1โ1 | aet | Old Showground ยท 6,483 |
| Scunthorpe United 2โ3 Torquay United (on aggregate โ Torquay United advance) | ||||
| Final | ||||
| Wed 25 May 1988 | Swansea City v Torquay United | 2โ1 | aet | Vetch Field ยท 10,825 |
| Sat 28 May 1988 | Torquay United v Swansea City | 3โ3 | aet | Plainmoor ยท 5,000 |
| ๐ Swansea City promoted to the Third Division | ||||
| Pos | Team | P | Home | Away | Total | Pts | GD | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | |||||
| 1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 47 | 19 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 35 | 24 | 27 | 9 | 10 | 82 | 43 | 90 | 39 |
| 2 | Cardiff City | 46 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 39 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 66 | 41 | 85 | 25 |
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 42 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 30 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 66 | 42 | 78 | 24 |
| 4 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 42 | 20 | 6 | 12 | 5 | 34 | 31 | 20 | 17 | 9 | 76 | 51 | 77 | 25 |
| 5 | Torquay United | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 34 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 32 | 25 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 66 | 41 | 77 | 25 |
| 6 | Swansea City | 46 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 35 | 28 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 27 | 28 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 62 | 56 | 70 | 6 |
| 7 | Peterborough United | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 28 | 26 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 24 | 27 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 52 | 53 | 70 | -1 |
| 8 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 55 | 27 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 30 | 36 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 85 | 63 | 69 | 22 |
| 9 | Colchester United | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 23 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 29 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 47 | 51 | 67 | -4 |
| 10 | Burnley | 46 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 31 | 22 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 26 | 40 | 20 | 7 | 19 | 57 | 62 | 67 | -5 |
| 11 | Wrexham | 46 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 46 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 23 | 32 | 20 | 6 | 20 | 69 | 58 | 66 | 11 |
| 12 | Scarborough | 46 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 38 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 29 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 56 | 48 | 65 | 8 |
| 13 | Darlington | 46 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 39 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 32 | 44 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 71 | 69 | 65 | 2 |
| 14 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 14 | 2 | 7 | 43 | 20 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 33 | 19 | 9 | 18 | 61 | 53 | 64 * | 8 |
| 15 | Cambridge United | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 32 | 24 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 50 | 52 | 61 | -2 |
| 16 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 25 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 32 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 50 | 57 | 59 | -7 |
| 17 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 25 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 32 | 34 | 13 | 19 | 14 | 57 | 53 | 58 | 4 |
| 18 | FC Halifax Town | 46 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 37 | 25 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 34 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 54 | 59 | 55 * | -5 |
| 19 | Hereford | 46 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 32 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 41 | 59 | 54 | -18 |
| 20 | Stockport County | 46 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 26 | 26 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 32 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 44 | 58 | 51 | -14 |
| 21 | Rochdale | 46 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 28 | 34 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 19 | 42 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 47 | 76 | 48 | -29 |
| 22 | Exeter City | 46 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 33 | 29 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 39 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 53 | 68 | 46 | -15 |
| 23 | Carlisle United | 46 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 38 | 33 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 19 | 53 | 12 | 8 | 26 | 57 | 86 | 44 | -29 |
| 24 | Newport County | 46 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 36 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 16 | 69 | 6 | 7 | 33 | 35 | 105 | 25 | -70 |