Leeds United's 1987/88 season: How a sleeping giant failed to awaken

It was the season which Leeds United failed to deliver despite being installed as favourites for promotion by the bookies.

Optimism was high when Leeds United kicked off the 1987/88 season having narrowly missed out on promotion the previous campaign when they suffered play off final replay heartache against Charlton Athletic at St Andrew's. But the Whites got off to a dismal start with only single John Sheridan-scored goal victories against Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion in their first nine games, in which only three goals were scored. Manager Billy Bremner tried to solve the lack of firepower by switching defender Peter Swan to a striking role, which worked temporarily. But it wasn't until Bobby Davison was bought from Derby County for £350,000 that the problem was solved. Results improved - notably a memorable New Year's Day win against Bradford City - but the season fizzled to a disappointing end with the Whites finishing seventh. Enjoy these rarely-seen photos, plucked from the YEP archive of season in which a sleeping giant failed to awaken despite a young gun named David Batty starting to blossom. READ MORE: The ups and downs of Leeds United's 1984/85 season

13. Leeds United's 1987/88 season

Peter Swan scores the opening goal past a packed Sheffield United defence at Elland Road in March 1988. The Whites won 5-0 which included a hat-trick from John Pearson.