39 Years ago today

[wittonwarrior]

Always had it in my head that we lost that one - don't know why.

Remember the return game though New Years Day at OT - got destroyed by Gordon Hill and Burridge showing  his lack of height, possibly the day  when Saunders knew we needed a decent keeper.

[Charlie8182]

Actually, they did beat us 2-1 at Villa Park in the League cup the previous season (Andy Gray scored his first goal for us) and we beat them by the same score at home in the league in front of over 50,000.

[castlefields_villan]

this one Dave and Castlefields ?

UTV
The Doc

Thanks again for putting this on - I've not seen it for 39 years - although that winning goal has cropped up occasionally from time to time.

I'd completely forgotten we missed a penalty late on and was that a (very) very young Paul Mcgrath playing number 7 for them - he could only have been 17.

Listening to Andy Gray talking afterwards - it was clear where the team was going - what a shame it still needed a bit of tweaking before we won the league 4 years later - so many questions - was Swain a better right back than Gidman, were Withe and Shaw more dynamic than Gray and Little.  Would Cowans have broke through if what happenned to Cropley have never happened ??  That 76-77 was probably the most exciting Villa team in my 49 years of supporting us and I always felt it such a shame we couldn't push on in 77-78 and needed another year to consolidate into the championship winning team.  Andy clearly thought that the championship was within reasonable grasp.  A great time to be watching The Villa.

I know Dalglish and Jordan were around in the late 70s but playing like he was then, how was Andy Gray left out of the Scotland team so often ??

[Dr Butler]

Chris McGrath the former Spurs player Castlefields...

UTV
The Doc

[castlefields_villan]

oh ok cheers for that.

[castlefields_villan]

What seriously does annoy me (and this was only a few weeks later) is that there's no footage of the 5-1 against soon to be European champions Liverpool - who today would even know who Derek Hales was ?

[Dr Butler]

What seriously does annoy me (and this was only a few weeks later) is that there's no footage of the 5-1 against soon to be European champions Liverpool - who today would even know who Derek Hales was ?

sadly no footage, but not a bad match report.

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2548744,00.html

UTV
The Doc

[Pat McMahon]

[/quote]

I know Dalglish and Jordan were around in the late 70s but playing like he was then, how was Andy Gray left out of the Scotland team so often ??
[/quote]

He received a lengthy ban for punching a Czech player in a defeat in Prague when he was at his peak and he also had a fair few injuries - genuine ones, not Ryan Giggs ones. I know he was only just over an  injury but he really should have been taken to Argentina in 1978.

[castlefields_villan]

Dr Butler

Cheers for that as well - I'll enjoy re-living that unbelievable night when I read the report - have I dreamt this or just after they scored to make it 4-1 and we promptly made restored the 4 goal lead (5-1) was that goal greeted by a stunned silence ??

I'll never forget driving home to Great Barr (with a portable radio on the back shelf !!) listening to BRMB - Robin Valk saying "just in case you haven't heard - Aston Villa have beaten Liverpool FIVE yes - FIVE -one.  I believe he was a Villa  man himself ?

PAT

I'd forgotten about the lengthy ban for Scotland, but it's still beyond me how he wasn't even on the plane for the 1978 WC in Argentina (what a successful world cup they had in his absence !!) - even Rod Stewart mentioned him in his world cup single that was in the charts in the spring prior to the tournament.

[steamer]

As stated, Utd brought a big following for that game, usual mix of Cockneys ,Midland Reds and the real ones from Manc land.
There had been a few skirmishes around New Street and in Town.
From a purely historical note and being a bit embarrassed, two double Dekker busses pulled up outside the bottom of Aston Park and opposite the Holte pub, one bus contained all of the steamers from the Hole in the wall and the other bus contained a load of mouthy twats who thought going to Villa Park was like going to ?? London. They were wrong.

[E I Adio]

That Villa team was the most exciting of any Villa team to watch in my lifetime, and that includes the League and European Cup team.

I'd probably go along with that. Great, great days.

[castlefields_villan]

That Villa team was the most exciting of any Villa team to watch in my lifetime, and that includes the League and European Cup team.

I'd probably go along with that. Great, great days.

Seconded and thirded

[the-farmer]

As stated, Utd brought a big following for that game, usual mix of Cockneys ,Midland Reds and the real ones from Manc land.
There had been a few skirmishes around New Street and in Town.
From a purely historical note and being a bit embarrassed, two double Dekker busses pulled up outside the bottom of Aston Park and opposite the Holte pub, one bus contained all of the steamers from the Hole in the wall and the other bus contained a load of mouthy twats who thought going to Villa Park was like going to ?? London. They were wrong.

Dad wouldn't take me to that game, he said there would be trouble (I was 8 )
Brilliant game, thanks for posting