| Date | Opponent | Venue | Fixture | Score | Scorers | Attendance | Match Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17-Aug-96 | Scunthorpe United | Home | League | 0-1 | 4456 | ||
| 20-Aug-96 | Portsmouth | Away | LC r1-1 | 0-2 | 4421 | ||
| 24-Aug-96 | Lincoln City | Away | League | 1-1 | Hendon | 3067 | |
| 27-Aug-96 | Carlisle United | Away | League | 0-1 | 4973 | ||
| 31-Aug-96 | Hartlepool United | Home | League | 2-0 | West, Kelly | 4344 | |
| 4-Sep-96 | Portsmouth | Home | LC r1-2 | 1-0 | West | 6980 | |
| 7-Sep-96 | Darlington | Home | League | 0-0 | 3859 | ||
| 10-Sep-96 | Northampton Town | Away | League | 1-0 | Chapman | 3994 | |
| 14-Sep-96 | Mansfield Town | Away | League | 2-0 | Hanson (2) | 1839 | |
| 21-Sep-96 | Colchester United | Home | League | 1-1 | Channing | 5261 | |
| 28-Sep-96 | Rochdale | Away | League | 0-1 | 1994 | ||
| 1-Oct-96 | Swansea City | Home | League | 1-0 | Hanson | 3533 | |
| 5-Oct-96 | Doncaster Rovers | Away | League | 1-2 | Ayorinde | 1840 | |
| 12-Oct-96 | Hull City | Home | League | 1-1 | Naylor (pen) | 4499 | |
| 15-Oct-96 | Chester City | Home | League | 0-0 | 3125 | ||
| 19-Oct-96 | Hereford United | Away | League | 0-2 | 2631 | ||
| 26-Oct-96 | Cardiff City | Away | League | 0-3 | 3647 | ||
| 29-Oct-96 | Scarborough | Home | League | 0-1 | 2697 | ||
| 2-Nov-96 | Torquay United | Home | League | 1-0 | Griffiths | 3899 | |
| 9-Nov-96 | Exeter City | Away | League | 2-3 | Ayorinde, Griffiths | 3171 | |
| 16-Nov-96 | Merthyr Tydfil | Home | FAC r1 | 2-1 | West, Winston | 4421 | |
| 23-Nov-96 | Cambridge United | Away | League | 0-2 | 4360 | ||
| 30-Nov-96 | Cardiff City | Home | League | 3-0 | Arnott, Griffiths, McGleish | 4512 | |
| 3-Dec-96 | Barnet | Away | League | 0-0 | 2549 | ||
| 7-Dec-96 | Stevenage Borough | Home | FAC r2 | 1-2 | Channing | 6980 | |
| 10-Dec-96 | Luton Town | Away | AWS s.r1 | 1-2 | Ling | 1594 | |
| 14-Dec-96 | Fulham | Away | League | 1-1 | Warren | 7355 | |
| 22-Dec-96 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Home | League | 2-0 | Naylor (2, 1 pen) | 7946 | |
| 26-Dec-96 | Northampton Town | Home | League | 2-1 | Channing, Inglethorpe | 4496 | |
| 28-Dec-96 | Darlington | Away | League | 1-1 | West | 2700 | |
| 4-Jan-97 | Mansfield Town | Home | League | 2-1 | West, McGleish | 3422 | |
| 18-Jan-97 | Swansea City | Away | League | 0-1 | 3435 | ||
| 21-Jan-97 | Wigan Athletic | Home | League | 1-2 | McGleish | 3012 | |
| 25-Jan-97 | Scarborough | Away | League | 1-2 | Chapman | 2184 | |
| 1-Feb-97 | Exeter City | Home | League | 1-1 | Winston | 3693 | |
| 4-Feb-97 | Colchester United | Away | League | 1-2 | Channing | 3689 | |
| 8-Feb-97 | Torquay United | Away | League | 0-0 | 3386 | ||
| 11-Feb-97 | Rochdale | Home | League | 2-1 | Inglethorpe, Castle | 2419 | |
| 15-Feb-97 | Cambridge United | Home | League | 1-1 | McGleish | 4421 | |
| 22-Feb-97 | Wigan Athletic | Away | League | 1-5 | Inglethorpe | 3783 | |
| 1-Mar-97 | Barnet | Home | League | 0-1 | 4635 | ||
| 8-Mar-97 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Away | League | 4-4 | Griffiths (2), McGleish, Inglethorpe | 8655 | |
| 16-Mar-97 | Fulham | Home | League | 0-2 | 7149 | ||
| 22-Mar-97 | Lincoln City | Home | League | 2-3 | Arnott, Timons | 4122 | |
| 29-Mar-97 | Scunthorpe United | Away | League | 2-1 | Timons, Channing | 3365 | |
| 31-Mar-97 | Carlisle United | Home | League | 2-1 | McGleish (2) | 4604 | |
| 5-Apr-97 | Hartlepool United | Away | League | 1-3 | Channing | 2576 | |
| 12-Apr-97 | Doncaster Rovers | Home | League | 2-1 | Arnott, Inglethorpe | 4003 | |
| 19-Apr-97 | Hull City | Away | League | 2-3 | Griffiths, Inglethorpe | 2647 | |
| 26-Apr-97 | Hereford United | Home | League | 2-1 | Ling, Inglethorpe | 5610 | |
| 3-May-97 | Chester City | Away | League | 1-0 | Inglethorpe | 3622 |