'twas 30 years ago this very day that...

[DeKuip]

January 10th 1981

Scousers Peter Withe & Dennis Mortimer scored as we beat league leaders Liverpool 2-0 at home in front of a capacity crowd, and as a result went top of the table ourselves.
I can still see Mortimer driving through their defence to score at the Holte End - seems like only yesterday.
For many of us it was the day we started to believe we really had a chance of winning the league, a belief that grew and grew as we then went on a run of seven straight league wins! At that rate we'd have had the title sewn up earlier under 3 pts for win, but that was the last season of being 2pts for a win.
We'd have finished SIX points clear had the new rule come and season sooner.

Looking for crumbs of anything to link that time to now – our next two games were an away derby (at Cov) and a home game against Man City and we won both.

[eamonn]

I wonder how G-Hou felt after that match. 

[Jon Crofts]

I remember it like it was yesterday.

Mortimer's goal started in our own half when full back Kenny Swain (cost £100k from Chelsea in 79) 'turned Money too easily' according to MoTD commentator Tony Gubba?

[Rico]

What a game, what a team. I remember the Holte end rammed to capacity. Compared to their puny Kop it must have looked absolutely terrifying!

[PROVERBS1966]

I remember it like it was yesterday.

Mortimer's goal started in our own half when full back Kenny Swain (cost £100k from Chelsea in 79) 'turned Money too easily' according to MoTD commentator Tony Gubba?

One of my greatest ever memories. Jon the 'turned Money too easily 'quote was the 1st goal when Tony Morley skinned Money to cross for Withe to score after Gary Shaw had brought a save out of Clemence. The second goal was  a through ball by Gary Shaw' onto Mortimer who's onside could this be number 2, YES ', que total pandemoneum. The commentator was David Coleman.

[olaftab]

What a game, what a team. I remember the Holte end rammed to capacity. Compared to their puny Kop it must have looked absolutely terrifying!

Full Holte end 28000.
Dennis always picked the ball up somewhere  between the D and the centre circle and drove straight through the opposition centre. The run either ending with a shot  or a  brick ***house putting him 4 foot in the air!

We made a habit of turning games around. In the second half of the season the worse thing an away team could do was to take the lead at VP.

[hawkeye]

still remember the Mortimer goal

[b23]

Ive got that game on video tape. If i knew how to post it i would. I will work to try and post it. ( dont hold your breath )

[Villan For Life]

I was thinking the same earlier this evening. 10th January was the day that I really thought that we could win the league.

Seems like yesterday as others have said. I was 13 at the time and was in my first full season of regular visits. They don't come any better than that and whilst I feel priveleged to have witnessed the Villa at the pinnacle of English football it's depressing to think that we were not able to build on it.

That said, Dennis Mortimer should be Knighted and his birthday declared a public holiday.

[TopDeck113]

Here we go.

The day that I though the Championship might be possible...

[Villan For Life]

Thanks Top Deck. What a sublime move that lead to the goal. It's been a while since I've seen it, the memories came flooding back.

[OzVilla]

I remember it like it was yesterday.

Mortimer's goal started in our own half when full back Kenny Swain (cost £100k from Chelsea in 79) 'turned Money too easily' according to MoTD commentator Tony Gubba?

Padant alert.

It was the first goal that 'Money turned to easily' and the commentator was David Coleman.

I had the radio commentry from Radio 2 for a while and the 2nd goal commentry of the late, great Peter Jones is memorable.

[Dave Cooper please]

Padant alert.

It's an open goal really isn't it?

[The Left Side]

Thanks for posting that, Jesus the Holte looks packed!

[adrenachrome]

Gary Shaw was a genius at those defence splitting little through balls.