This really was a battle of the fallen,as Swansea had just gone from the First Division to the Fourth in four seasons with relegations in 1983,1984 and,after just escaping the drop in 1985 by finishing 20th in Division Three,1986. Wolves had plummeted from the top division to the bottom one even faster,as they were relegated three years in a row in 1984,1985 and 1986. Other fallen big names left trying to sort themselves out in the Fourth Division following a catastrophic period included Burnley and Preston,the latter having come bottom but one in the entire Football League in 1985-86 in the last season of re-election before automatic promotion and relegation (of one team moving each way) was introduced. Cardiff were also in the Fourth Division following their dismal back-to-back relegations in 1984-85 and 1985-86. Swansea were on the brink of going bust just before Christmas 1985,so expectations cannot have been all that high for 1986-87,but they fared well and built some kind of a recovery. Wolves were still floundering until a recently-acquired young striker by the name of Steve Bull suddenly came good late on in 1986 - one of the biggest bargains ever at just £40,000 from West Bromwich Albion.
This really was a battle of the fallen,as Swansea had just gone from the First Division to the Fourth in four seasons with relegations in 1983,1984 and,after just escaping the drop in 1985 by finishing 20th in Division Three,1986. Wolves had plummeted from the top division to the bottom one even faster,as they were relegated three years in a row in 1984,1985 and 1986. Other fallen big names left trying to sort themselves out in the Fourth Division following a catastrophic period included Burnley and Preston,the latter having come bottom but one in the entire Football League in 1985-86 in the last season of re-election before automatic promotion and relegation (of one team moving each way) was introduced. Cardiff were also in the Fourth Division following their dismal back-to-back relegations in 1984-85 and 1985-86. Swansea were on the brink of going bust just before Christmas 1985,so expectations cannot have been all that high for 1986-87,but they fared well and built some kind of a recovery. Wolves were still floundering until a recently-acquired young striker by the name of Steve Bull suddenly came good late on in 1986 - one of the biggest bargains ever at just £40,000 from West Bromwich Albion.