The 1996–97 season was Derby County's first in the FA Premier League, following their promotion from the First Division the previous season.
Season summary Back in the top flight after a five-year exile, Jim Smith's Derby County side never looked in any real danger of an immediate return to Division One, and their 12th-place finish in the final table was their highest final position in eight years. Young striker Dean Sturridge received many plaudits for his goalscoring exploits, which sparked talk of a £7 million transfer to Arsenal, but the move never happened.
The highlight of the season was a 3–2 win against champions Manchester United at Old Trafford, with Paulo Wanchope scoring a "wonder goal" on his English league debut.
Final league table
Results summary
Results by round
Results Derby County's score comes first
Legend WinDrawLoss
FA Premier League DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 17 August 1996 Leeds UnitedH3–317,925Sturridge (2), Paul Simpson 21 August 1996 Tottenham HotspurA1–128,219Dailly 24 August 1996 Aston VillaA0–234,646 4 September 1996 Manchester UnitedH1–118,025Laursen 9 September 1996 Blackburn RoversA2–119,214Willems, Flynn 14 September 1996 SunderlandH1–017,692Asanović (pen) 21 September 1996 Sheffield WednesdayA0–023,487 28 September 1996 WimbledonH0–217,022 12 October 1996 Newcastle UnitedH0–118,092 19 October 1996 Nottingham ForestA1–127,771Dailly 27 October 1996 LiverpoolA1–239,515Ward 2 November 1996 Leicester CityH2–018,010Ward, Whitlow (own goal) 17 November 1996 MiddlesbroughH2–117,350Asanović, Vickers (own goal) 23 November 1996 West Ham UnitedA1–124,576Sturridge 30 November 1996 Coventry CityH2–118,042Asanović (pen), Ward 7 December 1996 ArsenalA2–238,018Sturridge, Powell 16 December 1996 EvertonH0–117,252 21 December 1996 SouthamptonA1–314,901Dailly 26 December 1996 SunderlandA0–222,512 28 December 1996 Blackburn RoversH0–017,847 11 January 1997 WimbledonA1–111,467Willems 18 January 1997 ChelseaA1–327,639Asanović 29 January 1997 Leeds UnitedA0–027,523 1 February 1997 LiverpoolH0–118,102 15 February 1997 West Ham UnitedH1–018,057Asanović (pen) 19 February 1997 Sheffield WednesdayH2–218,060Sturridge, Štimac 22 February 1997 Leicester CityA2–420,323Sturridge (2) 1 March 1997 ChelseaH3–218,039Minto (own goal), Asanović, Ward 5 March 1997 MiddlesbroughA1–629,739Simpson 15 March 1997 EvertonA0–132,140 22 March 1997 Tottenham HotspurH4–218,083van der Laan, Trollope, Sturridge, Ward 5 April 1997 Manchester UnitedA3–255,243Ward, Wanchope, Sturridge 9 April 1997 SouthamptonH1–117,839Ward 12 April 1997 Aston VillaH2–118,071Rowett, van der Laan 19 April 1997 Newcastle UnitedA1–336,550Sturridge 23 April 1997 Nottingham ForestH0–018,087 3 May 1997 Coventry CityA2–122,854Burrows (own goal), Sturridge 11 May 1997 ArsenalH1–318,287Ward
FA Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR321 January 1997 GillinghamA2–09,508Willems, van der LaanR425 January 1997 Aston VillaH3–117,977van der Laan, Sturridge, WillemsR526 February 1997 Coventry CityH3–218,003Ward, van der Laan, SturridgeQF8 March 1997 MiddlesbroughH0–217,567
League Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR2 1st Leg 17 September 1996 Luton TownA0–14,459R2 2nd Leg 25 September 1996 Luton TownH2–2 (lost 2–3 on agg)13,569Sturridge, Simpson
Players First-team squad Squad at end of season
Left club during season
Reserve squad The following players did not appear for the first team this season.
Statistics
Starting 11 GK: #1, Russell Hoult, 31 RB: #2, Gary Rowett, 35 CB: #27, Paul McGrath, 23 CB: #22, Christian Dailly, 31 CB: #16, Jacob Laursen, 35 LB: #3, Chris Powell, 35 CM: #6, Igor Štimac, 21 CM: #10, Aljoša Asanović, 34 CM: #4, Darryl Powell, 27 CF: 8, Dean Sturridge, 29 CF: #12, Ashley Ward, 25
Notes
References