During the 1997–98 English football season, Middlesbrough F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

Season summary Middlesbrough were promoted to the Premier League, also reaching the League Cup final, where the club lost its third domestic cup final in a year. Just reaching the final was a huge success, though, with the club not playing in the top flight and having lost international star players Fabrizio Ravanelli and Juninho following relegation.

The season also saw the arrivals of well-known players such as Paul Gascoigne from Rangers, Marco Branca from Inter Milan and Paul Merson from Arsenal, with Boro bucking the trend of players only being attracted by top-flight clubs.

Final league table

Results Middlesbrough's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 9 August 1997 Charlton AthleticH2–129,414Festa, Ravanelli 23 August 1997 Stoke CityH0–130,122 30 August 1997 Tranmere RoversA2–012,095Mustoe, Beck 2 September 1997 Stockport CountyA1–18,257Merson 13 September 1997 Bradford CityA2–217,767Kinder, Ormerod 20 September 1997 Birmingham CityH3–130,125Kinder, Beck, Emerson 28 September 1997 SunderlandA2–135,384Emerson, Mustoe 5 October 1997 Sheffield UnitedH1–230,000Beck 18 October 1997 Crewe AlexandraA1–15,759Townsend 21 October 1997 Oxford UnitedA4–18,306Emerson, Mustoe, Fleming, Merson 25 October 1997 Port ValeH2–130,096Merson (2 pens) 28 October 1997 Huddersfield TownH3–029,965Merson, Beck (2) 1 November 1997 Wolverhampton WanderersA0–126,896 5 November 1997 PortsmouthH1–129,724Townsend 8 November 1997 Queens Park RangersH3–030,067Beck, Merson, Ormerod 15 November 1997 Norwich CityA3–116,011Beck, Merson, Ormerod 22 November 1997 Swindon TownA2–115,228Merson, Emerson 26 November 1997 Nottingham ForestH0–030,143 29 November 1997 West Bromwich AlbionH1–030,164Beck 2 December 1997 Ipswich TownA1–113,619Merson 6 December 1997 BuryA1–08,016Beck 13 December 1997 ReadingH4–029,876Hignett (2), Beck (2) 20 December 1997 Manchester CityA0–228,097 26 December 1997 Huddersfield TownA1–018,820Gray (own goal) 28 December 1997 Stockport CountyH3–130,166Hignett, Beck (2) 10 January 1998 Charlton AthleticA0–315,742 17 January 1998 Ipswich TownH1–130,081Pearson 1 February 1998 Stoke CityA2–113,242Pearson, Moreno 4 February 1998 Tranmere RoversH3–029,540Hignett, Merson (2) 7 February 1998 Birmingham CityA1–120,639Festa 14 February 1998 Bradford CityH1–030,165Hignett 21 February 1998 SunderlandH3–130,227Branca (2), Armstrong 25 February 1998 Crewe AlexandraH1–029,936Maddison 1 March 1998 Nottingham ForestA0–425,286 4 March 1998 Queens Park RangersA0–511,580 11 March 1998 Swindon TownH6–029,581Branca (2), Maddison (2), Armstrong (2) 14 March 1998 PortsmouthA0–017,003 22 March 1998 Norwich CityH3–030,040Maddison, Armstrong, Beck 4 April 1998 West Bromwich AlbionA1–220,620Branca 7 April 1998 Sheffield UnitedA0–118,421 11 April 1998 BuryH4–030,218Ricard, Branca (3) 13 April 1998 ReadingA1–014,501Branca 17 April 1998 Manchester CityH1–030,182Armstrong 24 April 1998 Port ValeA1–012,096Merson 29 April 1998 Wolverhampton WanderersH1–129,878Ricard 3 May 1998 Oxford UnitedH4–130,228Armstrong (2), Hignett (2)

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR33 January 1998 Queens Park RangersA2–213,379Hignett, MustoeR3R13 January 1998 Queens Park RangersH2–021,817Campbell, MustoeR424 January 1998 ArsenalH1–228,264Merson

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR2 First Leg 16 September 1997 BarnetH1–09,611FreestoneR2 Second Leg 23 September 1997 BarnetA2–0 (won 3–0 on agg)3,968Beck, Merson (pen)R315 October 1997 SunderlandH2–026,451Campbell, HignettR418 November 1997 Bolton WanderersH2–1 22,801Summerbell, HignettR56 January 1998 ReadingA1–013,072HignettSF 1st Leg 27 January 1998 LiverpoolA1–233,438MersonSF 2nd Leg 18 February 1998 LiverpoolH2–0 (won 3–2 on agg)29,828Merson (pen), BrancaF29 March 1998 ChelseaN0–277,698

Squad

References