Bobby Campbell, Aston Villa’s 18 year old striker who could save the club £100,000 on the transfer market by establishing himself in the first team, steps up for his League Cup baptism against Everton at Goodsion Park tonight.

The former Northern Ireland schoolboy international scored on his League debut for Villa when he came on as substitute against Nottingham Forest last season.

He has all the attributes to make the grade and the only part missing from his game is experience.

He has played only two full first team games, but Villa manager, Ron Saunders, has no fears about playing him at Everton.

”He is a very mature young man and if he continues to show the improvement of recent months. he could become a good player.” he said.

Campbell keeps his place in a Villa team that shows two changes from the side beaten 2.0 at Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

Chico Hamilton returns in place of Pat McMahon, who has an ankle injury and goalkeeper Jimmy Cumbes comes back for Graham Moseley the on loan goalkeeper Derby do not want cup tied.

The match is an important one for Hamilton, who will be fighting to defend his place in Villa’s first team now that £100,000 Welsh International Leighton Phillips has Joined.

Hamilton Is not the only Villa player whose future might now he threatened.

Several of the ‘fringe’ first team squad could be in danger and the there Is a strong possibility that Saunders might put one or two on the transfer list.

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*Birmingham Daily Post*
Thursday, 19 September 1974

More League Cup glory for Saunders as … Villa triumph at Goodison By lAN WILLARS

Aston Villa tumbled First Division Everton out of the League Cup at Goodison Park last night with a tremendous performance to continue manager Ron Saunders’s incredible run in the competition.

Villa thoroughly deserved their success - always looking the more lively and aggressive side to make nonsense of their League status compared with that of the Merseysiders’ million pound outfit.

Sammy Morgan, Frank Carrodus and Ray Graydon were Villa’s heroes as they netted the second half goals which stunned Everton’s players and silenced the crowd of 24.595.

Everton’s fans took the defeat badly and Crewe referee Roy Capey stopped the game briefly in the 83rd minute and summoned police to stand behind the Gwladys Street End after collecting a broken bottle and a beer can from Jim Cumbes’s net.

But this was the only trouble and at the end the crowd gave Villa’s players a big ovation for an exceptional performance which must augur well for their Second Division promotion chances.

Villa might well have scored three goals in the first half with Bobby Campbell, John Robson and Morgan all going extremely close before the Northern Ireland centre forward broke the stalemate in the 49th minute.

He prodded the ball over the line after goalkeeper David Lawson had blocked shots in quick succession from John Gidman and Campbell.

Nine minutes later Villa went two up with Carrodus, scoring his first goal for the club after Charlie Aitken had put him through with a grand 30-yard pass following a magnificent tackle to dispossess Martin Dobson on the halfway line.

To add to Everton’s misery Graydon scored the third in the 80th minute when he fastened on to a loose ball after his corner had not been properly cleared, to score from the edge of the area.

It was a tremendous homecoming for Saunders. the Birkenhead born former Everton player who has taken Norwich City and Manchester City to the final of the League Cup in the last two seasons.

But Saunders is used to inflicting punishment on his old club.

He was manager of Norwich last season when they ended Everton’s League Cup hopes with a 1-0 victory.

After this performance it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Saunders could take Villa to Wembley again.

Their next hurdle is at Crewe on October 9 when they take on Jimmy Melia’s giant killers who knocked out Birmingham last week.

There was Just one blemish - Aitken being booked for the second time this season after colliding with winger John Connolly in the 35th minute. It looked a very harsh decision.

Everton were disappointing. Bob Latchford and Joe Royle, who have scored eight goals between them this season, failed to click as Chris Nicholl and skipper lan Ross kept a close watch on them. But Latchford should have scored in the 50th minute with only Cumbes to beat and Royle missed a chance in each half.

Everton’s defence had an unhappy time against Villa’s lively raiders and skipper Dave Clements was substituted for Jim Pearson. a £100,000 signing from St. Johnstone in the 65th minute. But not even this move paid off for Billy Bingham’s expensive side.

Saunders said afterwards “This was a tremendous performance. We have played well in several games this season but never really been able to sustain our displays with 90 minutes of sheer effort as we did tonight.”

Referee Capey disclosed later that he would report Everton to the FA for the bottle throwing incident “It is regrettable but I have no alternative “