Football League Second Division 1986/87
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Notes |
| 1st | Derby County | 42 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 64 | 38 | +26 | 84 | ▲Champions |
| 2nd | Portsmouth | 42 | 23 | 9 | 10 | 53 | 28 | +25 | 78 | ▲Runners Up |
| 3rd | Oldham Athletic | 42 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 65 | 44 | +21 | 75 | ♦Playoffs |
| 4th | Leeds United | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 58 | 44 | +14 | 68 | ♦Playoffs |
| 5th | Ipswich Town | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 59 | 43 | +16 | 64 | ♦Playoffs |
| 6th | Crystal Palace | 42 | 19 | 5 | 18 | 51 | 53 | -2 | 62 | - |
| 7th | Plymouth Argyle | 42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 62 | 57 | +5 | 61 | - |
| 8th | Stoke City | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 63 | 53 | +10 | 58 | - |
| 9th | Sheffield United | 42 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 50 | 49 | +1 | 58 | - |
| 10th | Bradford City | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 62 | 62 | 0 | 55 | - |
| 11th | Barnsley | 42 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 49 | 52 | -3 | 55 | - |
| 12th | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 45 | 55 | -10 | 55 | - |
| 13th | Reading | 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 52 | 59 | -7 | 53 | - |
| 14th | Hull City | 42 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 41 | 55 | -14 | 53 | - |
| 15th | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 51 | 49 | +2 | 51 | - |
| 16th | Millwall | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 39 | 45 | -6 | 51 | - |
| 17th | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 54 | 61 | -7 | 51 | - |
| 18th | Shrewsbury Town | 42 | 15 | 6 | 21 | 41 | 53 | -12 | 51 | - |
| 19th | Birmingham City | 42 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 47 | 59 | -12 | 50 | - |
| 20th | Sunderland | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 49 | 59 | -10 | 48 | ♦▼Relegated |
| 21st | Grimsby Town | 42 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 39 | 59 | -20 | 44 | ▼Relegated |
| 22nd | Brighton & Hove Albion | 42 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 37 | 54 | -17 | 39 | ▼Relegated |
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Football League Division 1/Division 2 - The Playoffs |
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Semi Finals 1st Leg |
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| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| Thu May 14 | Ipswich Town | 0-0 | Charlton Athletic |
| Thu May 14 | Leeds United | 1-0 | Oldham Athletic |
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Semi Finals 2nd Leg |
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| Sun May 17 | Charlton Athletic | 2-1 | Ipswich Town |
| Charlton Athletic won 2-1 on aggregate | |||
| Sun May 17 | Oldham Athletic | 2-1 | Leeds United |
| Leeds United won on the Away Goals Rule after drawing 2-2 on aggregate | |||
| Final 1st Leg | |||
| Sat May 23 | Charlton Athletic | 1-0 | Leeds United |
| Final 2nd Leg | |||
| Mon May 25 | Leeds United | 1-0 | Charlton Athletic |
| Aggregate Score: Charlton Athletic 1-1 Leeds United | |||
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Aggregate Scores: Charlton Athletic 1-1 Leeds United |
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| Final Replay | |||
| Fri May 29 | Charlton Athletic | 2-1 | Leeds United |
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End of Season Notes |
| ▼Leicester City were Relegated from the First Division |
| ▼Manchester City were Relegated from the First Division |
| ▼Aston Villa were Relegated from the First Division |
| ▲Derby County were Promoted to the First Division |
| ▲Portsmouth were Promoted to the First Division |
| ♦ Charlton Athletic (finished 19th - First Division) Qualified for the Relegation/Promotion Playoffs |
| ♦ Oldham Athletic (finished 3rd - Second Division) Qualified for the Relegation/Promotion Playoffs |
| ♦ Leeds United (finished 4th - Second Division) Qualified for the Relegation/Promotion Playoffs |
| ♦ Ipswich Town (finished 5th - Second Division) Qualified for the Relegation/Promotion Playoffs |
| ♦ Charlton Athletic remained in the First Division via the Playoffs |
| ▼Sunderland were Relegated to the Third Division |
| ▼Grimsby Town were Relegated to the Third Division |
| ▼Brighton & Hove Albion were Relegated to the Third Division |
| ▲Bournemouth were Promoted from the Third Division |
| ▲Middlesbrough were Promoted from the Third Division |
| ▲Swindon Town were Promoted from the Third Division via the Playoffs |