During the 1995–96 English football season, Crystal Palace F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

Season summary Alan Smith was sacked within days of relegation from the Premiership, and Steve Coppell returned to the manager's seat. Relegation also resulted in an exodus of players. The likes of Chris Coleman, Eric Young, Richard Shaw, Gareth Southgate, Iain Dowie, John Salako and Chris Armstrong were all sold to other clubs and Palace's line-up in the first game of the 1995–96 Division One campaign was barely recognisable. The campaign went poorly, and Coppell's second spell was brought to an end after only seven months, with relegation looking increasingly possible. Dave Bassett then joined the club for a second spell, which proved to be far more productive than his first as the club embarked on a stunning run of form which took them to the play-offs. The Eagles beat Charlton Athletic in the semi-finals to take them to the final against Leicester City at Wembley Stadium, in which they narrowly lost to the Foxes by a long range Steve Claridge goal in the final minute of extra time.

Final league table

Results Crystal Palace's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 12 August 1995 BarnsleyH4–312,067Houghton, Dowie (2), Gordon (pen) 19 August 1995 Ipswich TownA0–112,681 26 August 1995 Charlton AthleticH1–114,124Dyer 29 August 1995 Sheffield UnitedA3–215,170Dyer (2), Gordon 9 September 1995 Birmingham CityA0–019,403 12 September 1995 WatfordA0–08,780 16 September 1995 Huddersfield TownH0–015,645 23 September 1995 Oldham AthleticA1–314,434Hopkin 30 September 1995 Stoke CityH1–114,613Freedman 7 October 1995 SunderlandH0–113,754 15 October 1995 Port ValeA2–16,935Freedman, Gordon 22 October 1995 MillwallH1–214,338Gordon 28 October 1995 Leicester CityA3–218,376Dyer (2), Hopkin 4 November 1995 ReadingH0–216,058 11 November 1995 Norwich CityA0–114,156 19 November 1995 Southend UnitedA1–15,089Lapper (own goal) 22 November 1995 Wolverhampton WanderersH3–212,571Freedman (3) 25 November 1995 Derby CountyH0–013,506 3 December 1995 SunderlandA0–112,777 9 December 1995 Oldham AthleticH2–212,709Davies, Freedman 16 December 1995 Stoke CityA2–112,090Freedman, Taylor 23 December 1995 West Bromwich AlbionA3–27,694Gordon (3, 2 pens) 1 January 1996 PortsmouthA3–212,296Hopkin (2), Freedman 13 January 1996 Ipswich TownH1–114,097Davies 20 January 1996 BarnsleyA1–16,620Gordon 4 February 1996 Charlton AthleticA0–013,560 10 February 1996 Sheffield UnitedH0–015,883 17 February 1996 WatfordH4–013,325Freedman (2), Dyer (2) 20 February 1996 Tranmere RoversA3–25,253Freedman, Boere, Houghton 24 February 1996 Huddersfield TownA0–313,041 27 February 1996 Birmingham CityH3–212,965Dyer (3) 2 March 1996 Luton TownA0–09,478 5 March 1996 Grimsby TownH5–011,548Freedman (3), Hopkin, Houghton 9 March 1996 West Bromwich AlbionH1–018,336Freedman 12 March 1996 Tranmere RoversH2–113,183Ndah, Hopkin 16 March 1996 Grimsby TownA2–05,059Ndah, Gordon 19 March 1996 Luton TownH2–013,609Dyer (2) 23 March 1996 PortsmouthH0–017,039 30 March 1996 MillwallA4–113,214Hopkin, Brown, Ndah (2) 2 April 1996 Port ValeH2–214,180Freedman (2) 6 April 1996 Leicester CityH0–117,331 8 April 1996 ReadingA2–012,579Freedman, Houghton 14 April 1996 Southend UnitedH2–015,672Freedman (2) 20 April 1996 Wolverhampton WanderersA2–024,350Hopkin, Dyer 28 April 1996 Derby CountyA1–217,041Brown 5 May 1996 Norwich CityH0–119,354

First Division play-offs +RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersSF 1st Leg12 May 1996 Charlton AthleticA2–114,618Brown, VeartSF 2nd Leg15 May 1996 Charlton AthleticH1–022,880HoughtonF27 May 1996 Leicester CityN1–273,573Roberts

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR36 January 1996 Port ValeH0–010,456R3R16 January 1996 Port ValeA3–46,754Taylor, Cox, Dyer

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR2 First Leg 19 September 1995 Southend UnitedA2–24,031Hopkin (2)R2 Second Leg 3 October 1995 Southend UnitedH2–06,588Vincent, McKenzieR325 October 1995 MiddlesbroughH2–211,873Hopkin (2)R3R8 November 1995 MiddlesbroughA0–216,150

Players First-team squad

References

Notes