If you want to find out the scorers, line-ups and more details on the game, click on the full-time score.
| Date | Opponents | V | Res | HT | Competition | Comp | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Sep 1896 | The Wednesday | H | W | 2-1 | (0-0) | First Division | D1 |
| 12 Sep 1896 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | W | 1-0 | (1-0) | First Division | D1 |
| 19 Sep 1896 | Aston Villa | H | L | 2-3 | (0-2) | First Division | D1 |
| 26 Sep 1896 | Aston Villa | A | W | 2-1 | (1-1) | First Division | D1 |
| 3 Oct 1896 | Liverpool | H | W | 2-1 | (2-0) | First Division | D1 |
| 10 Oct 1896 | Burnley | A | L | 1-2 | (0-2) | First Division | D1 |
| 17 Oct 1896 | Sheffield United | H | L | 1-2 | (0-1) | First Division | D1 |
| 24 Oct 1896 | The Wednesday | A | L | 1-4 | (0-2) | First Division | D1 |
| 31 Oct 1896 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | D | 0-0 | (0-0) | First Division | D1 |
| 14 Nov 1896 | Bolton Wanderers | H | L | 2-3 | (2-1) | First Division | D1 |
| 21 Nov 1896 | Liverpool | A | D | 0-0 | (0-0) | First Division | D1 |
| 28 Nov 1896 | Burnley | H | W | 6-0 | (3-0) | First Division | D1 |
| 7 Dec 1896 | Bolton Wanderers | A | L | 0-2 | (0-0) | First Division | D1 |
| 12 Dec 1896 | Sunderland | A | D | 1-1 | (0-1) | First Division | D1 |
| 19 Dec 1896 | Stoke | H | W | 4-2 | (3-1) | First Division | D1 |
| 26 Dec 1896 | Sunderland | H | W | 5-2 | (2-1) | First Division | D1 |
| 1 Jan 1897 | Sheffield United | A | W | 2-1 | (1-0) | First Division | D1 |
| 2 Jan 1897 | Stoke | A | W | 3-2 | (1-1) | First Division | D1 |
| 9 Jan 1897 | Nottingham Forest | H | W | 3-1 | (1-0) | First Division | D1 |
| 16 Jan 1897 | West Bromwich Albion | A | W | 4-1 | (0-0) | First Division | D1 |
| 30 Jan 1897 | Burton Wanderers | H | W | 5-2 | (2-0) | FA Cup | FAC |
| 6 Feb 1897 | Preston North End | H | L | 3-4 | (2-2) | First Division | D1 |
| 13 Feb 1897 | Bury | H | W | 3-0 | (2-0) | FA Cup | FAC |
| 27 Feb 1897 | Blackburn Rovers | H | W | 2-0 | (1-0) | FA Cup | FAC |
| 2 Mar 1897 | Bury | A | L | 1-3 | (1-3) | First Division | D1 |
| 6 Mar 1897 | Blackburn Rovers | A | L | 2-4 | (2-3) | First Division | D1 |
| 10 Mar 1897 | Nottingham Forest | A | L | 0-3 | (0-0) | First Division | D1 |
| 13 Mar 1897 | Blackburn Rovers | H | L | 0-3 | (0-1) | First Division | D1 |
| 20 Mar 1897 | Derby County | N | W | 3-2 | (0-0) | FA Cup | FAC |
| 3 Apr 1897 | Preston North End | A | L | 1-4 | (0-2) | First Division | D1 |
| 10 Apr 1897 | Aston Villa | N | L | 2-3 | (2-3) | FA Cup | FAC |
| 16 Apr 1897 | Derby County | H | W | 5-2 | (2-0) | First Division | D1 |
| 17 Apr 1897 | West Bromwich Albion | H | W | 6-3 | (4-2) | First Division | D1 |
| 20 Apr 1897 | Derby County | A | W | 1-0 | (1-0) | First Division | D1 |
| 24 Apr 1897 | Bury | H | L | 1-2 | (1-1) | First Division | D1 |