Villa take a point off fellow strugglers Preston in Vic Crowe’s first game in charge as Villa boss. In one game Crowe had equalled the tally earned in the previous five second division games under predecessor and still feted Tommy Docherty. 

Docherty across his 26 games had delivered four wins (all at home) thirteen defeats and ten draws, seventeen points, conceding 41 whilst scoring 22.

Vic Crowe's first game in charge of Villa sees them earn a draw at Deepdale. Villa make it make it four wins, ten draws and thirteen defeats in twenty seven division two matches and remain bottom of the table with fifteen games to save themselves from a fall into the third tier for the first time in their history. 

Meanwhile, rebel right back Mick Wright played for Villa just eight days after claiming he would never play for the club again. Despite the failed one man rebellion, 

Vic Crowe's squad is depleted for the run in as midfielder Dave Rudge suffered a broken leg during the match and as a result he made his final appearance for Villa aged 22 before moving on to Hereford United in July 1973. Rudge played for Villa between 1966-67 and 1969-70 making 65 appearances and scoring 10 goals.