[1] However that quickly vanished on the opening day of the season as Birmingham City scored the first goal after just 45 seconds.

[1] Lee Dixon was sold to Arsenal in January for £375,000 a good price for a full back in 1988 and with Steve Bould's contract running out he also joined the "Gunners" for a fee of £390,000 which was settled at a tribunal.

[1] Stoke drew First Division side Liverpool in the third round and produced two excellent performances.

[1] In the League Cup Stoke beat Gillingham and Norwich City, but then lost in the next round to Arsenal.

[1] Stoke had their best run in the Full Members' Cup beating Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City before losing to eventual runner-up Luton Town in the quarter-final.