Sammy Morgan, Aston Villa’s Northern Ireland international centre forward. may visit a top London specialist in an attempt to clear up his stomach muscle injury.

Morgan has been treated by a specialist in the Midlands, but Villa now hope to send him to the doctor who advises Chelsea and treated a similar Injury suffered by Bobby Tambling.

Morgan’s injury occurred early this season and has often played in pain, “Eventually, though, we were forced to leave him out so we could concentrate on getting him right” Ron Saunders, the Aston Villa manager said.

It is unlikely that Morgan will have recovered in time to play against either Oxford in the League tomorrow or Colchester in the League Cup on Tuesday.

Saunders is understandably pleased with the way the attack played in the 6-1 defeat of Hartlepool on Monday - a victory which sliced Villa’s odds on winning the League Cup to 7-1.

Ladbrokes also quote Villa at 25-1 to win the Second Division championship and the odds on a League and Cup double are a shade over 200-1.

Saunders may watch Colchester at Swindon on Saturday “We’ve already had them watched twice and I may go myself on Saturday because we are playing on Friday night.” he said. “They may be less than their best because they could be thinking about our game. It’ll probably be the biggest game of the year for them.”

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*Birmingham Daily Post*
Friday, 29 November 1974

Villa aiming for another net profit

Aston Villa. the Second Division’s top marksmen at home, aim to hit the goal standard again tonight against improved Oxford United.

Villa, who have scored 22 goals in nine League games at Villa Park plus a further eight in three League Cup-ties. are just one ahead of leaders Manchester United in the goal stakes.

Yet the Villa goal glut has been maintained without the services of a recognised centre-forward since Sammy Morgan has been hit by his mystery stomach ailment.

The six goals they hammered past Fourth Division Hartlepool in the League Cup on Monday night was again achieved without a centre-forward to keep up their rate of nearly three goals a game.

The rate away from home of only six in nine games leaves a lot to be desired.

But Villa fans cannot complain about lack of goals or excitement at Villa Park this season.

And for the game against Oxford, Leighton Phillips will wear the No. 9 shirt, although he will operate in a scheming role leaving Chico Hamilton, Brian Little and Ray Graydon to perform the striking duties.

Villa have an added incentive to beat Oxford, who are undefeated in their last three games, because it would strengthen their promotion challenge. Particularly since Manchester United play Sunderland tomorrow.

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*Birmingham Daily Post*
Saturday, 30 November 1974

Oxford give Villa taste of their own medicine By RANDALL NORTHAM

Aston Villa failed to score at home for only the second time this season last night and the outcome was a weakening of their position in relation to the Second Division’s leading three clubs.

They are still fourth, with the majority of clubs to play today but the attacks which put six goals past Hartlepool, of the Fourth Division, in the League Cup on Monday, proved to be too fragile against a team as uncompromising as Oxford, although In the second half they had two headers blocked on the line.

It not a particularly good match to watch, either.

The crowd of 18,534 was silent for lengthy periods and only in the second half did they, or the team most of them supported, work up any steam.

The problem was that Oxford adopted similar tactics to those employed by Villa when playing away. Villa have scored 22 goals at Villa Park this season but only six away.

There can be no grumbles from Villa about the way Oxford approached the match. The midfield was crowded for both teams, tackles were often over-zealous and plenty of energy was expended.

But there was little that was once known as football.

Playing on Friday night did not suit Villa but would it have been any different on a Saturday?

The answer must be No.

Brian Little’s skill sometimes took him past one or two opponents but there was always someone to take the ball away, legally or otherwise - it didn’t seem to matter - and Chico Hamilton and Ray Graydon, his equally slight co-strikers, provided little threat.

The first half is best left unwritten - a booking for Jimmy Light after a tackle on Hamilton should be mentioned - the second was considerably better.

It contained a moment of magical skill by Brian Little after 51 minutes.

On the run, he back-heeled John Robson’s pass over his own head and that of the usually dependable Dave Roberts, wheeled on to the ball, and crossed. But Colin Clarke blocked it.

The game’s small crescendo was building up.

Three Oxford defenders went for Chris Nicholl’s free kick, got in each other’s way, and Hamilton put the ball over the top.

Then Graydon’s corner found Nicholl at the far post but his header hit Roberts, one of the four Oxford players on the goal-line, and went for another corner.

Four minutes later Steve Aylott obstructed Frank Carrodus, one of the few successes of the night, and was booked.

The subsequent free kick almost produced a goal when Graydon drove it across the face of the goal and Little dived into a ruck of players. He met the ball cleanly and headed it powerfully but it struck John Shuker and Carrodus was unable to force home the rebound.

Alan Little came on in the 78th minute for Leighton Phillips. injured a few minutes earlier by a tackle from behind, and still Villa pressed forward.

From a left wing corner, Brian Little’s shot was clearly handled by Shuker on the line. The Villa players screamed for a penalty and the crowd joined in. But the referee, Arthur Jones, had spotted a hand ball by Little.