Yes under Royle from Christmas 95 to Christmas 96 only Man Utd got more points, the start of 95/96 and finish to 96/97 was were it fell away, early 95/96 we were unlucky with injuries and missed out Europe because arsenal got a late goal. And if I remember correctly, we lost 3 players to bad injuries against leeds around Christmas, Parkinson, grant and hinchcliffe and then Kanchelskis leaving in tbe March and Royle getting sacked.
But we played some brilliant football and yet you still here the dogs of war nonsense, the 7-1 v Southampton, battered Liverpool a couple of times home and away but of course both ended in draws, 2-0 up at Utd till very late on and a goal in Fergie time got them a draw