So long as they can keep on doing well at Villa Park - they have not lost a League match there since they met Leeds on the opening day of the season - Aston Villa will have nothing to worry about.

But the vital, confident, commanding form they show at home is dissipated on opponents’ grounds and the second half of their home programme looks to be much tougher than the first.

Villa had plenty of the game at the Baseball Ground. They applied a lot of pressure but Colin Boulton’s goal was in danger only once, when Andy Gray’s header struck the base of a post when they were 1-0 down.

Few goals

No wonder then that Villa have scored only six away goals this season fewer even, than bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United.

It was easy to sympathise with Gray and his central striking partner, John Deehan, because the service they received when it mattered was appalling.

Ray Graydon and Chico Hamilton were subdued so the main source was full-back John Gidman. But although his speed, power and skill frequently took him into good positions his final crosses were often inaccurate.

It seems that the only way Villa are going to succeed away from home is by being brainwashed into believing that they are at Villa Park. Certainly they should have felt at home on Saturday. The crowd, over 37,230 was Derby’s largest of the season bigger even than the attendance for the European Cup-tie with Real Madrid and the reason was an enormous volume of support from Birmingham.

Thousands were locked out and the Villa followers with their balloons, which they let go when their team take to the field, outshouted the Derby fans. But it was not enough to lift their side. Villa are unlikely to have a better chance of beating Derby at the Baseball Ground. The League champions were without four internationals - Bruce Bloch, David Nish and Roy McFarland were injured while Francis Lee was still under suspension but despite the extensive reorganisation which included a debut for Tony Marken, Derby proved far too experienced and durable.

The absence of such personalities and the 2-1 defeat at Leicester on Boxing Day accounted for Derby’s unusually uncompromising mood and both Colin Todd and Peter Daniel were booked by the referee, Peter Reeves, for bringing down Deehan. But Henry Newton fitted in superbly at left back, Blachen played well and Steve Powell shut Dennis Mortimer out of the game.

Derby’s first goal, a minute after halftime, was scored by Powell, who neatly headed In a cross from Leighton James. John Burridge who played magnificently had no chance. And until they can get all the parts of their team functioning fully away from home, Villa will continue to suffer defeats like this.

Contribution

The £175.000 former Coventry player’s most obvious contribution was unfortunately when he brought down Archie Gemmill after first giving him the ball, and Charlie George scored from the penalty.