Season #2 | 1880-81 | Games #3 - #6
AVFC History
Season #88
| 1976-77 |
Games #3428 - #3483 |
1976-77 Club Summary
President | Trevor Gill
Chairman | Sir William Dugdale
Manager | Ron Saunders
Secretary | Alan Bennett
1976-77 Season Summary
Manager | Ron Saunders |
Games | #3428 - #3483 |
Captain(s) | #575 Leighton Phillips | #562 Chris Nicholl |
Top Scorer | 29 | #582 Andy Gray | 25 League | 1 FA Cup | 3 League Cup |
Most Appearances | 56 | #559 Brian Little | 42 League | 4 FA Cup | 10 League Cup |
Final League Position | 4th Football League Division One |
FA Cup Progress | Quarter Final |
League Cup Progress | Winners |
Biggest Win | 5-1 | Arsenal (h) | Wrexham (h), League Cup | Liverpool (h) |
Highest Home Attendance | 50,084 vs. Birmingham City |
1976-77 Division One Table
| 2 | Manchester City | P42 | W21 | D14 | L7 | F60 | A34 | GD 26 | Pts 56 |
| 3 | Ipswich Town | P42 | W22 | D8 | L12 | F66 | A39 | GD 27 | Pts 52 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | P42 | W22 | D7 | L13 | F76 | A50 | GD 26 | Pts 51 |
| 5 | Newcastle United | P42 | W18 | D13 | L11 | F64 | A49 | GD 15 | Pts 49 |
| 6 | Manchester United | P42 | W18 | D11 | L13 | F71 | A62 | GD 9 | Pts 47 |
1976-77 Results
| 1 | 21 Aug | h | West Ham United | W | 4-0 |
| 2 | 25 Aug | a | Manchester City | L | 0-2 |
| 3 | 28 Aug | a | Everton | W | 2-0 |
| 4 | 1 Sep | h | Manchester City (LC R2) | W | 3-0 |
| 5 | 4 Sep | h | Ipswich Town | W | 5-2 |
| 6 | 11 Sep | a | Queens Park Rangers | L | 1-2 |
| 7 | 18 Sep | h | Birmingham City | L | 1-2 |
| 8 | 21 Sep | h | Norwich City (LC R3) | W | 2-1 |
| 9 | 25 Sep | h | Leicester City | W | 2-0 |
| 10 | 2 Oct | a | Stoke City | L | 0-1 |
| 11 | 16 Oct | a | Sunderland | W | 1-0 |
| 12 | 20 Oct | h | Arsenal | W | 5-1 |
| 13 | 23 Oct | h | Bristol City | W | 3-1 |
| 14 | 27 Oct | h | Wrexham (LC R4) | W | 5-1 |
| 15 | 30 Oct | a | Liverpool | L | 0-3 |
| 16 | 6 Nov | h | Manchester United | W | 3-2 |
| 17 | 10 Nov | a | West Bromwich Albion | D | 1-1 |
| 18 | 20 Nov | h | Coventry City | D | 2-2 |
| 19 | 27 Nov | a | Norwich City | D | 1-1 |
| 20 | 1 Dec | h | Millwall (LC QF) | W | 2-0 |
| 21 | 11 Dec | a | Leeds United | W | 3-1 |
| 22 | 15 Dec | h | Liverpool | W | 5-1 | Fan View Rick Barley
| 23 | 18 Dec | h | Newcastle United | W | 2-1 |
| 24 | 27 Dec | a | Middlesbrough | L | 2-3 |
| 25 | 1 Jan | a | Manchester United | L | 0-2 |
| 26 | 8 Jan | a | Leicester City (FAC R3) | W | 1-0 |
| 27 | 22 Jan | a | West Ham United | W | 1-0 |
| 28 | 29 Jan | h | West Ham United (FAC R4) | W | 3-0 |
| 29 | 1 Feb | a | Queens Park Rangers (LC SF L1) | D | 0-0 |
| 30 | 5 Feb | h | Everton | W | 2-0 |
| 31 | 12 Feb | a | Ipswich Town | L | 0-1 |
| 32 | 16 Feb | h | Queens Park Rangers (LC SF L2) | D | 2-2 |
| 33 | 22 Feb | n | Queens Park Rangers (LC SF Replay) | W | 3-0 |
| 34 | 26 Feb | h | Port Vale (FAC R5) | W | 3-0 |
| 35 | 2 Mar | h | Derby County | W | 4-0 |
| 36 | 5 Mar | a | Leicester City | D | 1-1 |
| 37 | 12 Mar | n | Everton (LC Final) | D | 0-0 |
| 38 | 16 Mar | n | Everton (LC Final Replay) | D | 1-1 |
| 39 | 19 Mar | a | Manchester United (FAC QF) | L | 1-2 |
| 40 | 23 Mar | h | Sunderland | W | 4-1 |
| 41 | 2 Apr | a | Bristol City | D | 0-0 |
| 42 | 5 Apr | h | Middlesbrough | W | 1-0 |
| 43 | 9 Apr | a | Derby County | L | 1-2 |
| 44 | 13 Apr | n | Everton (LC Final 2nd Replay) | W | 3-2 |
| 45 | 16 Apr | a | Coventry City | W | 3-2 |
| 46 | 20 Apr | h | Tottenham Hotspur | W | 2-1 |
| 47 | 23 Apr | h | Norwich City | W | 1-0 |
| 48 | 25 Apr | a | Arsenal | L | 0-3 |
| 49 | 30 Apr | a | Tottenham Hotspur | L | 1-3 |
| 50 | 4 May | h | Manchester City | D | 1-1 |
| 51 | 7 May | h | Leeds United | W | 2-1 |
| 52 | 10 May | a | Birmingham City | L | 1-2 |
| 53 | 14 May | a | Newcastle United | L | 2-3 |
| 54 | 16 May | h | Stoke City | W | 1-0 |
| 55 | 20 May | h | Queens Park Rangers | D | 1-1 |
| 56 | 23 May | h | West Bromwich Albion | W | 4-0 |
1976-77 Other Matches of Note
Charlie Aitken Testimonial | 26 May | h | Midland Select XI | L | 1-6 | 5,000 |
1976-77 Season Review
Villa's second season back in the top flight saw Saunders' men open with a resounding win and the first 10 games brought another 5 wins but 4 losses. The second ten saw Villa again post 6 wins but they suffered just one loss as the season's momentum started to build. Villa followed up with another 7 wins and despite 2 losses over the Christmas period were sitting pretty in the table and in the semi final of the League Cup yet again.
Villa's next set of 10 fixtures were dominated by cup fixtures with the Villa vanquishing QPR in the League Cup Semi finals at the second attempt, dispatching with Port Vale in the FA Cup fifth round, defeat in the FA Cup Quarter Finals and the first two of three finals against Everton to decide the winners of the 1977 League Cup.
Villa finally disposed of Everton to win their third League Cup amidst a flurry of wins. As had happened before however a Villa trophy win upset league form and Villa went on to lose 4 in 6 games before ending the season unbeaten in 3, hitting 4 without reply in their final game - the same score they had opened the campaign with.
The end result for Saunders' Villa was a strong 4th place and victory in the League Cup for the 2nd time in 3 seasons. Meanwhile Saunders set about further reducing the average age of the Villa squad - now it stood at just 22.4 years old as Villa built for the future,
Villa also chalked up another 100+ goal season, blitzing the 100 goals barrier for the 11th time. Villa scored a total of 105 league and cup goals. That placed 6th in Villa’s 11 100+ seasons in 1930-31 (131) 1928-29 (115) 1960-61 (112) 1974-75 (110) 1912-13 (106) 1976-77 1931-32 1929-30 (105) 1891-92 (102) & 1971-72 1893-94 (100)
1976-77 Transfers
1 July 1976 - 30 June 1977
Incoming | 5 |
#587 Gordon Smith | St. Johnstone | £80,000 | Aug 76 | 22 |
#588 Alex Cropley | Arsenal | £125,000 | Sep 76 | 25 |
#615 Nigel Spink | Chelmsford City | £4,000 | Jan 77 | 18 |
#598 Allan Evans | Dunfermline Athletic | £30,000 | May 77 | 20 |
#595 John Gregory | Northampton Town | £60,000 | Jun 77 | 23 |
Outgoing | 8 |
#540 Chico Hamilton | Southend United | Free | Jul 76 | 25 |
#565 Keith Leonard | Retired | Released | Jul 76 | 25 |
#578 Frank Pimblett | Stockport County | Free | Jul 76 | 19 |
#567 Bobby McDonald | Coventry City | £45,000 | Aug 76 | 21 |
#561 Ian Ross | Peterborough United | £20,000 | Dec 76 | 29 |
#591 David Hughes | Lincoln City | £20,000 | Apr 77 | 19 |
#562 Chris Nicholl | Southampton | £60,000 | Jun 77 | 30 |
#580 Steve Hunt | New York Cosmos | £26,000 | Jun 77 | 20 |
1976-77 Squad Changes
Debut Appearances | 6 |
#587 Gordon Smith | Saturday, 21 August 1976 | West Ham United (h) | 22 |
#588 Alex Cropley | Saturday, 25 September 1976 | Leicester City (h) | 25 |
#589 Charlie Young | Saturday, 11 December 1976 | Leeds United (a) | 18 |
#590 Mick Buttress |Wednesday, 15 December 1976 | Liverpool (h) | 18 |
#591 David Hughes | Monday, 27 December 1976 | Middlesbrough (a) | 18 |
#592 Ivor Linton | Monday, 16 May 1977 | Stoke City (h) | 17 |
Final Appearances | 7 |
#580 Steve Hunt | Wednesday, 1 December 1976 | Millwall (h), League Cup | 20 |
#557 Ray Graydon | Saturday, 23 April 1977 | Norwich City (h) | 29 |
#591 David Hughes | Saturday, 30 April 1977 | Tottenham Hotspur (a) | 19 |
#579 Keith Masefield | Saturday, 30 April 1977 | Tottenham Hotspur (a) | 20 |
#589 Charlie Young | Saturday, 14 May 1977 | Newcastle United (a) | 19 |
#581 John Burridge | Monday, 23 May 1977 | West Bromwich Albion (h) | 25 |
#562 Chris Nicholl | Monday, 23 May 1977 | West Bromwich Albion (h) | 30 |
1976-77 Squad Statistics
Squad Size | 22 | -2 |
Average Age | 22.4 | -1.2 |
Average 1st XI Age | 24.63 | -0.88 |
Youngest 1st XI | 22.76 | Arsenal (a) | -0.58 |
Oldest 1st XI | 25.33 | West Bromwich Albion (a) | -1.89 |
Youngest Player(s) | 17 |
Ivor Linton | 20-Nov-1959
Oldest Player(s) | 29 |
Chris Nicholl | 12-Oct-1946
1976-77 Scorers
Goals Scored | 105 | League Goals | 76 | FA Cup Goals | 8 | League Cup Goals | 21 |
| 29 |
Andy Gray | Goals | 29 | League | 25 | FA Cup | 1 | League Cup | 3 |
| 26 |
Brian Little | Goals | 26 | League | 14 | FA Cup | 2 | League Cup | 10 |
| 18 |
John Deehan | Goals | 18 | League | 13 | FA Cup | 3 | League Cup | 2 |
| 7 |
Ray Graydon | Goals | 7 | League | 6 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 1 |
| 6 |
Chris Nicholl | Goals | 6 | League | 2 | FA Cup | 1 | League Cup | 3 |
| 5 |
Dennis Mortimer | Goals | 5 | League | 4 | FA Cup | 1 | League Cup | 0 |
| 4 |
John Gidman | Goals | 4 | League | 4 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 |
| 3 |
Alex Cropley | Goals | 3 | League | 3 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 |
Gordon Cowans | Goals | 3 | League | 3 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 |
| 2 |
Own Goal | Goals | 2 | League | 1 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 1 |
| 1 |
Frank Carrodus | Goals | 1 | League | 0 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 1 |
David Hughes | Goals | 1 | League | 1 | FA Cup | 0 | League Cup | 0 |
1976-77 Appearances
| 56 |
#559 Brian Little | Appearances | 56 | League | 42 (0) | FA Cup | 4 (0) | League Cup | 10 (0) | . Player Profile
| 54 |
#584 Dennis Mortimer | Appearances | 54 | League | 40 (0) | FA Cup | 4 (0) | League Cup | 10 (0) | . Player Profile
#576 Leighton Phillips | Appearances | 54 | League | 40 (0) | FA Cup | 4 (0) | League Cup | 10 (0) | . Player Profile
| 48 |
#581 John Burridge | Appearances | 48 | League | 35 (0) | FA Cup | 4 (0) | League Cup | 9 (0) | . Player Profile
#582 Andy Gray | Appearances | 48 | League | 36 (0) | FA Cup | 3 (0) | League Cup | 9 (0) | . Player Profile
| 47 |
#562 Chris Nicholl | Appearances | 47 | League | 34 (0) | FA Cup | 3 (0) | League Cup | 9 (0) | . Player Profile
| 45 |
#566 John Robson | Appearances | 45 | League | 33 (1) | FA Cup | 4 (0) | League Cup | 7 (0) | . Player Profile
| 43 |
#573 Frank Carrodus | Appearances | 43 | League | 30 (0) | FA Cup | 4 (0) | League Cup | 9 (0) | . Player Profile
| 41 |
#588 Alex Cropley | Appearances | 41 | League | 32 (0) | FA Cup | 2 (0) | League Cup | 7 (0) | . Player Profile
#563 John Gidman | Appearances | 41 | League | 27 (0) | FA Cup | 4 (0) | League Cup | 10 (0) | . Player Profile
| 39 |
#587 Gordon Smith | Appearances | 39 | League | 32 (2) | FA Cup | 0 (0) | League Cup | 4 (1) | . Player Profile
| 37 |
#583 John Deehan | Appearances | 37 | League | 27 (0) | FA Cup | 4 (0) | League Cup | 6 (0) | . Player Profile
| 26 |
#586 Gordon Cowans | Appearances | 26 | League | 16 (3) | FA Cup | 2 (1) | League Cup | 3 (1) | . Player Profile
| 22 |
#557 Ray Graydon | Appearances | 22 | League | 17 (0) | FA Cup | 1 (0) | League Cup | 4 (0) | . Player Profile
| 11 |
#589 Charlie Young | Appearances | 11 | League | 9 (1) | FA Cup | 1 (0) | League Cup | 0 (0) | . Player Profile
| 8 |
#571 Jake Findlay | Appearances | 8 | League | 7 (0) | FA Cup | 0 (0) | League Cup | 1 (0) | . Player Profile
| 5 |
#591 David Hughes | Appearances | 5 | League | 4 (1) | FA Cup | 0 (0) | League Cup | 0 (0) | . Player Profile
| 2 |
#590 Mick Buttress | Appearances | 2 | League | 0 (2) | FA Cup | 0 (0) | League Cup | 0 (0) | . Player Profile
#592 Ivor Linton | Appearances | 2 | League | 0 (2) | FA Cup | 0 (0) | League Cup | 0 (0) | . Player Profile
#580 Steve Hunt | Appearances | 2 | League | 0 (1) | FA Cup | 0 (0) | League Cup | 0 (1) | . Player Profile
#579 Keith Masefield | Appearances | 2 | League | 1 (1) | FA Cup | 0 (0) | League Cup | 0 (0) | . Player Profile
1976-77 'Keepers
#581 John Burridge | Appearances | 48 | Conceded | 49 | Ratio | 1.02 |
#571 Jake Findlay | Appearances | 8 | Conceded | 10 | Ratio | 1.25 |
1976-77 Season Statistics
Games | 56 |
Won | 31 | 55% |
Drew | 11 | 20% |
Lost | 14 | 25% |
Unbeaten | 42 | 75% |
Goals Scored | 105 | 1.88 Goals per game |
Goals Conceded | 59 | 1.05 Goals per game |
Clean Sheets | 20 | 36% |
Average Home Attendance | 38,737 |
Longest winning run | 4 Games |
League winning run | 4 Games |
Longest unbeaten run | 8 Games |
Longest losing run | 2 Games |
Games without a win | 4 Games |
Ron Saunders' third season as Villa manager brought 4th place in Division One and Villa's 3rd League Cup win.
Saunders’ Villa had now achieved a win rate of 48%, losing 26% of their 159 League and FA Cup matches under his leadership.
As a result Saunders had returned 1.70 points per game* across his 159 games in charge of Villa. Saunders was now ahead of all of his predecessors Tommy Cummings (1.06 in 67), Tommy Doherty (1.20 in 55) Dick Taylor (1.23 in 146), Villa’s first professional manager Jimmy McMullan (1.24 in 99) as well as Eric Houghton (1.31 in 250), George Martin (1.42 in 119), Joe Mercer (1.51 in 282), Alex Massie (1.56 in 227), Jimmy Hogan (1.59 in 124), Billy Smith’s 1.62 across 364 games, Vic Crowe (1.63 in 222) and George Ramsay’s performance of 1.69 across his 1,332 games.
*Rankings based on 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw in all competitions
1976-77 Kits
1976-77 Season Results
Game #3428
Matchday | #1 |
League Match-week | #1 |
Manager Game | #104 |
Saturday, 21 August 1976
Football League | Division One | Home | West Ham United | Villa Park | 39,012 |
Manager | Ron Saunders |
Referee | Clive Thomas, Treorchy |
FT Result | Won |
FT Score | 4-0 |
Last 5 Games | DDWWW |
Scorers | Andy Gray | 49' | +1 | Ray Graydon | 54' | 60' (pen) |
Line Up |
GK John Burridge |
RB John Gidman |
D Chris Nicholl |
FB John Robson |
FB Gordon Smith | DEBUT |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Dennis Mortimer |
W Frank Carrodus |
W Ray Graydon | GOAL | 54' | 60' |
CF Andy Gray | GOAL | 49' | +1 |
F Brian Little |
Unused Substitute |
M David Hughes |
Match Report
"Villa display built on solid lines"
On this day 21 August 1976
Full back Gordon Smith made his Villa debut aged 22 after joining from St. Johnstone for a fee of £80,000 on 1 August 1976.
18 year old midfielder David Hughes made his first appearance in the Villa squad.
---
Game #3429
Matchday | #2 |
League Match-week | #2 |
Manager Game | #105 |
Wednesday, 25 August 1976
Football League | Division One | Away | Manchester City | Maine Road | 41,007 |
Manager | Ron Saunders |
FT Result | Lost |
FT Score | 0-2 |
Last 5 Games | DWWWL |
Line Up |
GK John Burridge |
RB John Gidman |
D Chris Nicholl |
FB John Robson |
FB Gordon Smith |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Dennis Mortimer |
W Frank Carrodus |
W Ray Graydon |
CF Andy Gray |
F Brian Little |
Unused Substitute |
CB David Hughes |
Match Report
"Villa still seek an away tonic"
---
Game #3430
Matchday | #3 |
League Match-week | #3 |
Manager Game | #106 |
Saturday, 28 August 1976
Football League | Division One | Away | Everton | Goodison Park | 32,058 |
Manager | Ron Saunders |
Referee | P Partridge, Cockfield |
FT Result | Won |
FT Score | 2-0 |
Last 5 Games | WWWLW |
Scorers | Brian Little | 20' | Own Goal | 1 |
Line Up |
GK John Burridge |
RB John Gidman |
D Chris Nicholl |
FB John Robson |
FB Gordon Smith |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Dennis Mortimer |
W Frank Carrodus |
W Ray Graydon |
CF Andy Gray |
F Brian Little | GOAL | 20' |
Unused Substitute |
W Steve Hunt |
Match Report
"Villa find the winning route"
On this day 28 August 1976
Villa go top of the First Division
---
Game #3431
Matchday | #4 |
Manager Game | #107 |
Wednesday, 1 September 1976
League Cup | 2nd Round | Home | Manchester City | Villa Park | 34,585 |
Manager | Ron Saunders |
FT Result | Won |
FT Score | 3-0 |
Last 5 Games | WWLWW |
Scorers | Brian Little | 33' | 47' | Ray Graydon | 71' |
Line Up |
GK John Burridge |
RB John Gidman | BOOKED |
D Chris Nicholl |
FB John Robson |
FB Gordon Smith |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Dennis Mortimer |
W Frank Carrodus |
W Ray Graydon | GOAL | 71' |
CF Andy Gray | BOOKED |
F Brian Little | GOAL | 33' | GOAL | 47' |
Unused Substitute |
W Steve Hunt |
Match Report
"Villa gain ample revenge over City as …
Little delivers Cup knockout"
---
Game #3432
Matchday | #5 |
League Match-week | #4 |
Manager Game | #108 |
Saturday, 4 September 1976
Football League | Division One | Home | Ipswich Town | Villa Park | 39,916 |
Manager | Ron Saunders |
Referee | K.W. Ridden, Shrewsbury |
FT Result | Won |
FT Score | 5-2 |
Last 5 Games | WLWWW |
Scorers | Brian Little | 6' | Andy Gray | 57' | 62' | 77' | Ray Graydon | 1 |
Line Up |
GK John Burridge |
RB John Gidman |
D Chris Nicholl |
FB John Robson |
FB Gordon Smith |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Dennis Mortimer |
W Frank Carrodus |
W Ray Graydon | GOAL |
CF Andy Gray | GOAL | 57' | 62' | 77' |
F Brian Little | GOAL | 6' |
Unused Substitute |
W Steve Hunt |
Match Report
"Gray gives outlook Villa bright future"
On this day 4 September 1976
Villa had now won 4 of the last 5 games
Villa remain top of the first division
The last Villa player to score a hat-trick in the First Division was Tony Hateley. He scored four goals in the 5-5 draw against Tottenham at White Hart Lane in March 1966.
Aston Villa’s status as League leaders is reflected in the goalscoring charts. Their players fill three of the top four places.
---
Game #3433
Matchday | #6 |
League Match-week | #5 |
Manager Game | #109 |
Saturday, 11 September 1976
Football League | Division One | Away | Queens Park Rangers | Loftus Road | 23,602 |
Manager | Ron Saunders |
FT Result | Lost |
FT Score | 1-2 |
Last 5 Games | LWWWL |
Scorers | Andy Gray | 30' |
Line Up |
GK John Burridge |
RB John Gidman |
D Chris Nicholl |
FB John Robson |
FB Gordon Smith |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Dennis Mortimer |
W Frank Carrodus |
W Ray Graydon |
CF Andy Gray | GOAL | 30' |
F Brian Little |
Substitute |
M Gordon Cowans for FB John Robson |
Match Report
"Villa are toppled by Clement’s cracker"
---
Game #3434
Matchday | #7 |
League Match-week | #6 |
Manager Game | #110 |
Saturday, 18 September 1976
Football League | Division One | Home | Birmingham City | Villa Park | 50,084 |
Manager | Ron Saunders |
FT Result | Lost |
FT Score | 1-2 |
Last 5 Games | WWWLL |
Scorers | Andy Gray | 1 |
Line Up |
GK John Burridge |
RB John Gidman |
D Chris Nicholl |
FB John Robson | SUB OFF | 67' |
FB Gordon Smith |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Dennis Mortimer |
W Frank Carrodus |
W Ray Graydon |
CF Andy Gray | GOAL |
F Brian Little |
Substitute |
W Steve Hunt for FB John Robson | 67' |
Match Report
"Blues hit back with vengeance"
---
Game #3435
Matchday | #8 |
Manager Game | #111 |
Tuesday, 21 September 1976
League Cup | 3rd Round | Home | Norwich City | Villa Park | 31,295 |
Manager | Ron Saunders |
FT Result | Won |
FT Score | 2-1 |
Last 5 Games | WWLLW |
Scorers | Andy Gray | 1 | 63' |
Line Up |
GK John Burridge |
RB John Gidman |
D Chris Nicholl |
FB Gordon Smith |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Gordon Cowans |
M Dennis Mortimer |
W Frank Carrodus |
W Ray Graydon |
CF Andy Gray | GOAL | GOAL | 63' |
F Brian Little |
Unused Substitute |
FB Keith Masefield |
Match Report
"Smothering tactics cramp Villa’s style but….
Gray's double sinks Norwich "
---
Game #3436
Matchday | #9 |
League Match-week | #7 |
Manager Game | #112 |
Saturday, 25 September 1976
Football League | Division One | Home | Leicester City | Villa Park | 36,652 |
Manager | Ron Saunders |
Referee | Mr D Richardson, Blackburn |
FT Result | Won |
FT Score | 2-0 |
Last 5 Games | WLLWW |
Scorers | Ray Graydon | 13' (pen) | Andy Gray | 82' |
Line Up |
GK John Burridge |
RB John Gidman |
D Chris Nicholl |
FB Gordon Smith |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Alex Cropley | DEBUT |
M Dennis Mortimer |
W Frank Carrodus |
W Ray Graydon | GOAL | 13' |
CF Andy Gray | GOAL | 82' |
F Brian Little |
Unused Substitute |
FB John Robson |
Match Report
"Villa were rewarded for their early pressure"
On this day 25 September 1976
Midfielder Alex Cropley made his Villa debut after joining from Arsenal for a fee of £125,000 on 21 September 1976.
---
Game #3437
Matchday | #10 |
League Match-week | #8 |
Manager Game | #113 |
Saturday, 2 October 1976
Football League | Division One | Away | Stoke City | Victoria Ground | 29,652 |
Manager | Ron Saunders |
Referee | Mr J Wrennall, Chorley |
FT Result | Lost |
FT Score | 0-1 |
Last 5 Games | LLWWL |
Line Up |
GK John Burridge |
RB John Gidman |
D Chris Nicholl | BOOKED |
FB Gordon Smith |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Alex Cropley |
M Dennis Mortimer | BOOKED |
W Frank Carrodus |
W Ray Graydon |
CF Andy Gray |
F Brian Little |
Unused Substitute |
FB John Robson |
Match Report
"Ref points way to Villa defeat"
---
Game #3438
Matchday | #11 |
League Match-week | #9 |
Manager Game | #114 |
Saturday, 16 October 1976
Football League | Division One | Away | Sunderland | Roker Park | 31,578 |
Manager | Ron Saunders |
Referee | Mr. T. Farley, Newton Ayecliffe |
FT Result | Won |
FT Score | 1-0 |
Last 5 Games | LWWLW |
Scorers | Alex Cropley | 75' |
Line Up |
GK John Burridge |
RB John Gidman |
D Chris Nicholl |
FB Gordon Smith |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Alex Cropley | GOAL | 75' | BOOKED |
M Dennis Mortimer | BOOKED |
W Frank Carrodus |
W Ray Graydon |
CF Andy Gray |
F Brian Little |
Unused Substitute |
FB John Robson |
Match Report
"Cool Cropley carves out Villa winner"
---
Game #3439
Matchday | #12 |
League Match-week | #10 |
Manager Game | #115 |
Wednesday, 20 October 1976
Football League | Division One | Home | Arsenal | Villa Park | 33,860 |
Manager | Ron Saunders |
FT Result | Won |
FT Score | 5-1 |
Last 5 Games | WWLWW |
Scorers | Dennis Mortimer | 36' | Ray Graydon | 39' (pen) | Andy Gray | 62' | 73' | Brian Little | 86' |
Line Up |
GK John Burridge |
RB John Gidman |
D Chris Nicholl |
FB Gordon Smith |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Alex Cropley |
M Dennis Mortimer | GOAL | 36' |
W Frank Carrodus |
W Ray Graydon | GOAL | 39' |
CF Andy Gray | GOAL | 62' | 73' |
F Brian Little | GOAL | 86' |
Unused Substitute |
FB John Robson |
Match Report
"Gray the star as Arsenal are humbled and . . . Five-goal Villa climb to fourth"
On this day 20 October 1976
Villa had now won 4 of their last 5 games
---
Game #3440
Matchday | #13 |
League Match-week | #11 |
Manager Game | #116 |
Saturday, 23 October 1976
Football League | Division One | Home | Bristol City | Villa Park | 37,094 |
Manager | Ron Saunders |
Referee | Mr. R. Kirkpatrick, Leicester |
FT Result | Won |
FT Score | 3-1 |
Last 5 Games | WLWWW |
Scorers | Chris Nicholl | 51' | John Gidman | 64' | Ray Graydon | 78' |
Line Up |
GK John Burridge |
RB John Gidman | GOAL | 64' |
D Chris Nicholl | GOAL | 51' |
FB Gordon Smith |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Alex Cropley |
M Dennis Mortimer |
W Frank Carrodus |
W Ray Graydon | GOAL | 78' |
CF Andy Gray |
F Brian Little |
Unused Substitute |
FB John Robson |
Match Report
"Villa off key but strike right note"
---
Game #3441
Matchday | #14 |
Manager Game | #117 |
Wednesday, 27 October 1976
League Cup | 4th Round | Home | Wrexham | Villa Park | 41,428 |
Manager | Ron Saunders |
FT Result | Won |
FT Score | 5-1 |
Last 5 Games | LWWWW |
Scorers | Brian Little | 38' | 58'| Frank Carrodus | 40' | Chris Nicholl | 63' | Andy Gray | 79' |
Line Up |
GK John Burridge |
RB John Gidman |
D Chris Nicholl | GOAL | 63' |
FB Gordon Smith |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Alex Cropley |
M Dennis Mortimer |
W Frank Carrodus | GOAL | 40' |
W Ray Graydon |
CF Andy Gray | GOAL | 79' |
F Brian Little | GOAL | 38' | 58' ||
Unused Substitute |
FB John Robson |
Match Report
"FIVE-GOAL VILLA FAIL TO PLEASE RON"
On this day 27 October 1976
This was the third time Villa had scored five goals in one match this season.
Villa’s last 3 games had brought 3 wins and 13 goals with just 3 conceded
Andy Gray scored his 15th goal of the campaign
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Game #3442
Matchday | #15 |
League Match-week | #12 |
Manager Game | #118 |
Saturday, 30 October 1976
Football League | Division One | Away | Liverpool | Anfield | 51,751 |
Manager | Ron Saunders |
Referee | Mr A.E. Morrissey, Bramhall |
FT Result | Lost |
FT Score | 0-3 |
Last 5 Games | WWWWL |
Line Up |
GK John Burridge |
RB John Gidman |
D Chris Nicholl |
FB Gordon Smith |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Alex Cropley |
M Dennis Mortimer |
W Frank Carrodus |
W Ray Graydon |
CF Andy Gray |
F Brian Little |
Unused Substitute |
FB John Robson |
Match Report
"Praise is Villa's solitary reward "
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Game #3443