As Aston Villa prepared to meet the constant threat posed by the visit of Manchester United’s fans, the Football Association have stated they may bring disciplinary charges against away clubs in future should their supporters misbehave, Writes RANDALL NORTHAM.

Which is good news for Aston Villa should United’s fans follow tonight the same pattern of violence they showed at Wolves on the first day of the season.

The FA’s new policy became evident after yesterday’s enquiry into crowd violence during the match at Kenilworth Road between Luton and Chelsea on August 30. Ted Croker, the FA secretary, said: “In the past the FA have never taken action against visiting clubs, mainly because of the difficulty of identifying fans.

“If Chelsea had been playing Everton for instance both sets of spectators would have been wearing blue and white scarves. This case is not the same and I must admit there is a chance of Chelsea being charged.”

Chelsea’s fans invaded the Kenilworth Read pitch with their team 3-0 down and then went on a rampage through the streets of the town doing considerable damage.

But Luton and Chelsea will have to wait at least a week before finding out if the FA are to make charges against them. Croker added: “This is just an exploratory investigation.”

The enquiry was headed by disciplinary chairman Vernon Stokes and included chairman Sir Andrew Stephen and also Sir Harold Thompson.

Meanwhile Aston Villa have a doubt about John Robson for tonight’s fourth round League Cup game. He has a calf strain and if he cannot play Ray Graydon, dropped for Saturday’s match at Middlesbrough, will return.

Villa are forced to leave out £90,000 goalkeeper John Burridge, who is cup-tied, but £110,000 striker Andy Gray will make his home debut. Jake Findlay comes in for Burridge. United will retain the team which drew 0-0 with Leicester but give the substitutes job to Tony Grimshaw instead of Dave McGreery.
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*Birmingham Daily Post*
Thursday, 9 October 1975

Saunders runs out of luck at last, as …
Villa’s revival comes too late By RANDALL NORTHAM

Ron Saunders’s League Cup luck was bound to run out sooner or later. And last night Aston Villa, the holders, went out of the competition at the third round after a tumultuous match with the First Division leaders Manchester United.

The Villa manager had taken Norwich and Manchester City to Wembley and lost in 1973 and 1974 and last February he finally won the Cup with Villa. Not a bad record and if it had to end it could have picked a worse occasion than last night.

As the game crackled before the crowd of 41,447 the largest in the competition this season the noise rose and fell in a series of crescendos.

Only when the game seemed lost to Villa did the atmosphere lose its expectancy and tension. But then the Villa fans became alive again in the last five minutes as Villa threatened to save the game.

They were two down when Brian Little had a shot saved by Alex Stepney and then the United goalkeeper, who had been inspired, dropped the ball and Andy Gray’s shot was blocked on the line by Martin Buchan.

Then, with two minutes to go, Gray, making his home debut after his £110,000 transfer from Dundee United, headed home and United faced tremendous physical and emotional pressure as Villa chased the equaliser but there was not enough time, although the referee played three minutes of injury time.

It was the first time these teams had met in the Cup since Villa, then in the Third Division, beat United in the semi final in 1971 and they were clearly the better team in the first half.

They might have had three or four goals as their quick, lithe, clean attacks from deep positions, sprung from differing angles, frequently forced United’s defence into panic.

Although United started the attacking with a fifth minute 25-yard shot from Lou Macari, Villa were quickly on the offensive but their finishing did not match their approach work.

Chris Nicholl’s eighth minute header was nodded off the line by Tommy Jackson and Gray, sometimes over-eager, but sharp and skilful, particularly in the air, volleyed acrobatically wide.

Brian Little should have scored in the 25th minute when Chico Hamilton put him through. But Stepney was having one of those nights when his goal is charmed and the shot hit his knees as he rushed forward.

Gray appeared to be held back as he went to shoot and Stepney made a brilliant diving save to stop Charlie Aitken’s header.

It was breathless stuff. A few bare patches but mostly exhilarating action.

Little had another half-chance and the first 45 minutes ended with Stepney staggering but holding a powerful header from Gray as he twisted to reach Ray Graydon’s corner.

United were more composed after the break and after initial Villa pressure they went ahead in the 63rd minute. Stewart Houston chipped a free kick from the left and Macari slid a back header over Jake Findlay as he stood in no-man’s land.

Dangerous

Stepney made a save from a shot by Ray Graydon look easy but the dangerous action was at the other end when Sammy Mcilroy’s corner bounced off Nicholl’s shoulder and hit Findlay’s left-hand post.
John Gidman booted clear.

It was clear United had found Villa’s measure and in the 71st minute another small man, Steve Coppell, scored with a header, this time from a McIlroy cross.

The match seemed over but Villa’s revival started with a header from Gray which went narrowly wide and then came the frenetic last few minutes.

Villa may have lost a League Cup tie but in Gray they have found a dashing, hard-working, talented centre forward, who was an immediate hit with the crowd.