Aston Villa, confronted by a deep defence in which Oakes was playing sweeper throughout the first half, broke through to record their first win In the First Division by virtue of a headed goal by Keith Leonard after 65 minutes.

The game, a cat and mouse affair in the first half, took on new dimensions after the goal had forced City to abandon their defensive ploy. Watson, who was given a distinctly uncomfortable time by Leonard in the second half when Villa, true to form, began to call on their reserves of stamina, kicked off the line from Carrodus, but City also squandered a good chance of equalising when Power shot over three minutes from the end.AND RODNEY G T I MILE SHIRT RODNEY MARSH, Manchester Cit y' s clowning skipper, could have dropped himself in trouble last night. Five minutes from the end of City's match at Aston Villa he lowered his shorts to the crowd after being booed. The incident happened after Villa goalkeeper Jim Cumbes refused to give Marsh the ball when City were awarded a corner. Marsh tried to wrestle it away and then, as the fans jeered in derision, he pulled his shorts down to his knees. Referee Terry Spencer, ro Wootton Basset, By NIGEL CLARKE Wilts, said that he did not see the incident. but Villa's Cumbes said: "It was typical Rodney but I don't think the crowd were too upset by it." Last season Terry Mancini was fined and suspended by an F 25 court after showing his backside to the crowd while playing for Queen's Park Rangers. Mancini, now of Arsenal, was reported by an F A observer In the crowd and found guilty of ungentlemanly conduct. _ _ Villa won the match 1-0 with a sixty-eighth minute goal from Keith Leonard, who headed home a Brian Little freekick. Marsh, who was covered by his shirt, would not comment. afterwards, It was a Just reward for Leonard, who had caused England centre half Dave Watson a lot of trouble in the air. Alan Oakes was booked for flooring Little and City were content to defend as they came under Increasing pressure.

Villa's blood first in Division 1 Aston Villa. confronted by a deep defence in which Oakes was playing sweeper throughout the first half. broke through to record their fiat win In the rir.t Division by virtue of a headed goal by Keith Leonard after Is 3 minutes. The game. a cat and mouse affair in the first half, took on new dimensions after the goal had forced City to abandon their defensive ploy. Watson, who was given a distinctly uncomfortable time by Leonard In the second half when Villa, true to form, began to call on their reserves of stamina, kicked off the line from Carrodus. but City also squandered a good chance of equalising when Power shot over three minutes from tho end. Manchester United 1, Coventry 1 Cnventry maintained their unbeaten record at 01d Trafford laid night with a 70th minute equaliser from Alan Green. Although they had the moll:diction of spoil• Mg United's 100 per cent rel•nrd, City were unfortunate not to take both points. in the dosing stages. substitute Ferguson mimed a greet chance and earlier Green inexplicably misklcked with all die goal to aim at, United took the load In the 2:lrd minute with a superb low 20. yard drive from Pear. son, after the opening had been engineered by CoppeM. Hut as Coventry pressed In a tremendously fast game. ort I mer mimed another chance. In the second halt King twice saved well from Pear• son. but In the Mith minute Stepney's save at the second ■ttemnt from Mortimer hrniieht only momentary relief. Greedholf misplaced his hack pass. Cron nipped In. hut his shot was blocked before the ball ran to Groan who scored the equaliser. Soccer Mine N POOTSO o LL LIAQ — UI CUP Lee) •AAM T LI] .0 . I 0 6 043 u . • ► 3.2. .1. 0.0 7.. 77 vision win nn . 441410 'nails b- 2. • wruisan. •0. 2 PONT VAL? 0 1. 0.0 4. 07 4.4, NORTNIAPTII. I WATTOND I N.T. 1.0 4.236 %ottani win on NOTTS PON. NOTNIONAIN I M.T. 2.0 7,577 Om F . tl n • 7 1 3.0 Potorloortwoh win on 3-2. •• 0.0 Apoonnto 2.2 SWANS/A 3 T 7 1-1 3.1113 orneisy wln 7-4. DIVISION ONO ASTON VILLA I MANCH CITY 0 I'. 212 Y 3 NIVICASTLII S 11 0 27 OSS LNIC STIM . I STONI I H 0.1 2 075 MAN UTO. I covaminy I 11 2. 0 lig P n 2: ! I. :tie i 4 **trap 1 fowl' UM 4 1 4 C 4 sn 4 1 7 , 41.0t.414 4 1 ' 2=l? 1 1 Walt*, 2 4 i 0 s.rmie•hii 4 0 Ph*. Vtd 4 0 1 Aston Villa 1, Manchester aty • 11. T. 0-0. Official Attendance 33,212. Manchester United defender Stewart Houston was booked for a foul on Coventry forward Tommy Hutchison In the 72nd minute. Derby County 3 NeweasUs United 3 League champions Derby County recovered from the shock of conceding a simple 17th minute goal to Alec Bruce to score their first victory of the season. United forward Micky Burns was sent off nine minutes before half time after protesting about a Derby penalty which Francis Lee then missed. Derby scored three within 20 minutes of the second half through Tommy Craig (own goal). Kevin Hector and Lee. Derby's Bloch and Newcutle's Hibbitt were booked before Malcolm MacDonald pulled a goal back 11 minutes from the end his sixth goal of the season,