The Rovers ended this campaign in sixteenth place in Division Two, with thirty eight points from their forty two league games. On the face of it, this would point to a pretty disappointing campaign, but the facts surrounding the outcome of the season make remarkable reading. The eventual champions - Sheffield Wednesday - took the honours with only fifty three points, and had the Rovers managed to muster a further six league points, then they would have finished in the top seven.

The season opened with an away defeat at Hillsborough, but the Rovers soon gained their first points with home wins over Blackburn Rovers and Leeds United. A further point was obtained in the return at Ewood Park, Blackburn, but losses followed at Rotherham, and at home to Brentford, before the Rovers got back to winning ways via a victory over Cardiff City at Belle Vue. An eight week period between mid-September and mid-November saw them beaten just once in nine games. Notable wins were registered over QPR, West Ham and Swansea Town, plus an excellent away success at Coventry. Three consecutive defeats followed, before Everton provided the Rovers with some Christmas cheer. The "Toffees" were well licked at Belle Vue on Christmas Day itself, and subsequently surrendered a further point twenty-four hours later, when the two teams met again before a 47,000 gate at Goodson Park. The New Year game with Rotherham United was a bitter disappointment for the Rovers faithful, with the "Millers" winning by three clear goals at Belle Vue, and before the Rovers best home attendance of the season - 29,267.

The second half of the season opened with an away defeat at Cardiff, and then a heavy home defeat by Birmingham City. Further losses came at Leicester City, and at home to Nottingham Forst, before the team won, albeit unexpectedly, at QPR. By this time, the Rovers were deep in the relegation mire, and they were going to have to find some good form from somewhere, otherwise they would be back in the Third Division (North) again. There appeared to be little reason for optimism, when Notts County thrashed them at Belle Vue in their next match, but Kit Lawlor's goals - seven in the next six games - did much to wrest four wins and two draws from the next six fixtures. This run effectively saved the Rovers' bacon. The remaining four games of the season realised but a single point, and relegation had been avoided by a mere four points. There had been a deal of unrest behind the scenes at Belle Vue during the course of the campaign, and this had undoubtedly had an effect on the morale of the side. It remained to be seen if things would improve…..

The FA Cup saw the Rovers progress to the Fifth Round for the first time in their history. A home win over Buxton in the Third Round, and a quite sensational victory at Middlesborough in the Fourth, left them with a difficult away match at Portsmouth in the Fifth Round. The "Pompey Chimes" rang loud and clear at Fratton Park following the home team's four goal success.

Leading scorers (league): Tindill 11, Lawlor 10, Harrison 7