4-0

ASTON VILLA v. DERBY COUNTY.

On frost-bound ground, and in bitterly cold weather, these teams faced each other at Perry Barr on Saturday in their return League fixture.

There were only a little over 4,000 present when Derby started game.

The home eleven was a strong combination, but the visitors were short of Robinson in goal, Leiper at back, McLachlan at half, and J. Goodall and MacMillan among the forwards.

Hamilton started the ball, but the Villa forwards soon became prominent, Devey, Chatt, and Hodgetts making a splendid run, which carried the ball wide of the mark.

A little later Devey and Hodgetts were at work again, and a fine run resulted in the latter prettily scoring.

Staley, Green, and Methven were kept busy, but defended their charge with fine judgment. A smart, combined attack resulted in Green saving twice in quick succession, but Smith met the ball as it came into play and promptly returned, beating Green, who had not had time to recover himself.

Nothing further transpired to the interval.

The second half opened fairly even, first one set of forwards and then the other forcing the play, but on the whole the Villa, whose passing was always superior, held the advantage, and Green more than once distinguished himself between the posts.

Cowan was responsible for a grand exhibition of dribbling, but the attack came to nothing.

Hamilton, Sawyer, and Bloomer attacked the Aston goal, but Spencer drove them back, and play once more was confined tho Derby quarters, Hodgetts concluding a fine onslaught by shooting third goal.

A few minutes only had elapsed when Smith dribbled up his wing, and, sending in a good centre, Chatt headed a fourth point.

The Villa were now going strongly, and the attack was almost wholly confined to the home side, whilst the visitors were playing a strong defensive game.

The closing stages of the game saw the county team to better advantage, but nothing in the way of scoring was done, and the game closed—Aston Villa, four goals; Derby County, nothing.