Villa come into the game with promotion off the table and promptly put on a performance that culminates in a fine first half strike by Pat McMahon before familiar struggles return and Villa are beaten for the third successive game, fall to 15th in the table, nine points off the final promotion place with six points left to play for and fully 25 points behind leaders Middlesbrough.

Vic Crowe's Villa lose three successive matches to make it twelve wins, fourteen draws and thirteen defeats in thirty nine League games this season. Meanwhile, forward Bobby Campbell and goalkeeper Jake Findlay made their Villa debuts aged 17 and 19 after joining from school football in June 1972 and July 1970.