During the 1992–93 English football season, Middlesbrough competed in the inaugural season of the Premier League. It was Middlesbrough's first season in the top flight since relegation in 1988; Middlesbrough regained promotion to England's top flight by finishing second in the old Second Division (renamed the First Division after the foundation of the Premier League).
Season summary Middlesbrough enjoyed a good start to the season, winning four of their first seven games – including a superb 4–1 home win over Yorkshire rivals and reigning champions Leeds United – a run that sent them sixth in the table. Unfortunately, they couldn't quite keep up the momentum but still, up to their thrilling 3–2 victory over Blackburn Rovers on 5 December 1992, they enjoyed stable mid-table form, winning six, drawing six and losing six of their first 18 games. Unfortunately, three consecutive draws followed and from then, starting from a 1–0 home defeat to strugglers Crystal Palace before the new year, the club struggled and went into freefall during the entire second half of the season, winning just three of their next 18 fixtures and picking up just ten points from a possible 54, a run that ultimately resulted in the club's relegation looking inevitable with three matches left.
However, a 3–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur gave them a very slim glimmer of hope for an unlikely survival; on the other hand, they would never look like pulling off the 'great escape' that relegation rivals Oldham Athletic would soon perfect. With just two matches left, they were already three points adrift of Sheffield United and five adrift of Crystal Palace, both having a game in hand. Despite a 3–2 win at Sheffield Wednesday, results went against them: Palace beating Ipswich Town 3–1, Sheffield United condemning Nottingham Forest to relegation by winning 2–0 at the City Ground and Oldham stunning title chasers Aston Villa 1–0 at Villa Park which also saw Manchester United clinching their first top-flight title for 26 years. With these results, Middlesbrough were left with a virtually impossible survival task, with only one game left and were three points adrift of Sheffield United who had two games left with a vastly superior goal difference of −3 against Boro's −21. They needed the Blades to lose both of their final games with a miracle 18-goal swing and to beat third-placed Norwich City in their final game for any chance of survival. Sadly, Boro's relegation was confirmed before a ball was kicked on their closing fixture as the Blades beat Everton 2–0 at Goodison Park. A 3–3 draw with Norwich City for Boro at least meant that they finished a difficult season on a high note in the final three games, going down fighting, and it gave them a glimpse of positivity in gaining promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt for next season. They finished in 21st place, five points adrift of safety.
Kit Middlesbrough's kit was manufactured by Admiral. The shirt sponsor was Imperial Chemical Industries.
Final league table
Results
Premier League + Premier League match resultsDate OpponentsHome/AwayResultF–AScorersAttendance15 August 1992Coventry CityA1–2Wilkinson12,68119 August 1992Manchester CityH2–0Slaven (2)15,36922 August 1992Leeds UnitedH4–1Wilkinson (2), Wright, Hendrie18,64929 August 1992SouthamptonA1–2Wilkinson13,0031 September 1992Ipswich TownH2–2Kernaghan, Wilkinson14,2555 September 1992Sheffield UnitedH2–0Falconer, Wright15,17912 September 1992Manchester CityA1–0Flitcroft (o.g.)25,24419 September 1992Queens Park RangersA3–3Kernaghan, Wright, Falconer12,27226 September 1992Aston VillaH2–3Slaven, McGrath (o.g.)20,9053 October 1992Manchester UnitedH1–1Slaven24,17217 October 1992Tottenham HotspurA2–2Mustoe, Wilkinson24,73521 October 1992Nottingham ForestA0–117,84624 October 1992Sheffield WednesdayH1–1Wilkinson18,41431 October 1992Norwich CityA1–1Wilkinson14,4997 November 1992LiverpoolA1–4Phillips (pen.)34,97421 November 1992WimbledonH2–0Hendrie, Morris14,52428 November 1992Oldham AthleticA1–4Falconer12,4015 December 1992Blackburn RoversH3–2Hendrie (3)20,09611 December 1992ChelseaH0–015,59919 December 1992ArsenalA1–1Seaman (o.g.)23,19726 December 1992EvertonA2–2Hignett (2)24,39128 December 1992Crystal PalaceH0–121,1239 January 1993Queens Park RangersH0–115,61617 January 1993Aston VillaA1–5Hignett19,97726 January 1993SouthamptonH2–1Mohan, Wilkinson13,91830 January 1993Leeds UnitedA0–330,3446 February 1993Coventry CityH0–214,0089 February 1993Sheffield UnitedA0–215,18420 February 1993Nottingham ForestH1–2Phillips15,63927 February 1993Manchester UnitedA0–336,2512 March 1993Ipswich TownA1–0Wilkinson15,4309 March 1993WimbledonA0–25,82113 March 1993LiverpoolH1–2Nicol (o.g.)22,46320 March 1993Blackburn RoversA1–1Hendrie14,04122 March 1993Oldham AthleticH2–3Mohan, Hignett12,2903 April 1993ChelseaA0–413,0436 April 1993ArsenalH1–0Hendrie12,72610 April 1993EvertonH1–2Wilkinson16,62712 April 1993Crystal PalaceA1–4Wilkinson15,12320 April 1993Tottenham HotspurH3–0Wright (2), Wilkinson14,4721 May 1993Sheffield WednesdayA3–2Falconer, Pollock, Hendrie25,9498 May 1993Norwich CityH3–3Falconer, Wilkinson, Hendrie15,155
FA Cup +FA Cup match resultsDateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance13 January 1993Third roundChelseaH2–1Wright, Falconer16,77623 January 1993Fourth roundNottingham ForestA1–1Falconer22,2963 February 1992Fourth round replayNottingham ForestH0–320,514
League Cup +League Cup match resultsDateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance23 September 1992Second round, first legNewcastle UnitedA0–025,8147 October 1992Second round, second legNewcastle UnitedH1–3Wilkinson24,390
First-team squad
References