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Game #3394

Aston Villa

4-0-3, 8 PTS

Aston Villa.jpg

Saturday, 25 September 1976

5th= (+3)

Last 5: ๐ŸŸฉ ๐ŸŸฅ ๐ŸŸฅ ๐ŸŸฉ ๐ŸŸฉ

GK John Burridge | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
RB John Gidman | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB Chris Nicholl | ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง |
FB Gordon Smith | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
M Leighton Phillips | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ |
M Dennis Mortimer | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Alex Cropley | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | ๐ŸŸข |
W Frank Carrodus | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
W Ray Graydon | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | โšฝ |
F Brian Little | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐Ÿ”ฅ |
CF Andy Gray | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | โšฝ |

Ron Saunders | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 1974-1982
Aston Villa.jpg
Substitutes

No Substitutions Made

Unused Substitutes

FB John Robson | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |

Yellow Cards (Warnings, Cautions, Bookings)

None

Red Cards (Ordered from Field of Play, Dismissals, Sendings Off)

None

Trophy Record

League Champions: ๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ† ๐Ÿ†
FA Cup Winners: ๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ† ๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ†
League Cup Winners: ๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ†
Last Trophy: 1974-75

Matchday Squad

Goalkeepers
GK John Burridge | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |

Defenders
CB Chris Nicholl | ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง |

Full Backs
RB John Gidman | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
FB John Robson | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
FB Gordon Smith | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |

Midfielders
M Leighton Phillips | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ |
M Dennis Mortimer | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Alex Cropley | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |

Wingers
W Frank Carrodus | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
W Ray Graydon | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |

Forwards
F Brian Little | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CF Andy Gray | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |

Unavailable

None

Team News

Ron Saunders hands Alex Cropley his debut in place of Gordon Cowans.

Team Stats

Starting XI Average Age
| 25.20 |

Oldest Player |
CB Chris Nicholl | ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง | 29.98 |

Youngest Player |
CF Andy Gray | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | 20.84 |

Debut Appearances

๐ŸŸข M Alex Cropley | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | #584 | ยฃ125,000 signing from Arsenal

Final Appearances

None

Aston Villa.jpg

Won

2-0

๐ŸŸฉ 25 Sep 1976, Villa 2-0 Leicester, Villa Park
Scorer(s) | Ray Graydon | 13' (pen) | Andy Gray | 82' |

Assist(s) | Brian Little | 82' |

Match Timeline

๐ŸŸข | 1โ€™ Debut, Alex Cropley
โšฝ | 13โ€™ Goal, 1-0, Ray Graydon (pen)
๐Ÿ•’ | HT Aston Villa 1-0 Leicester City
โšฝ | 82โ€™ Goal, 2-0, Andy Gray, Assist by Brian Little
๐Ÿ•’ | FT Aston Villa 2-0 Leicester City

Season | 1976-77 |
Matchday | #9 |
League Match | #7 |
Manager Game | #112 |
Saturday, 25 September 1976

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Match Record
Game Record

Manager: Ron Saunders | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Birkenhead, 1974-1982
Referee: David Richardson | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Blackburn, 1973-1984
Kick off: 3.00pm
HT Score: ๐ŸŸฉ 1-0
FT Result: ๐ŸŸฉ Won
FT Score: ๐ŸŸฉ 2-0
Last 5: ๐ŸŸฉ ๐ŸŸฅ ๐ŸŸฅ ๐ŸŸฉ ๐ŸŸฉ

Officials

Referee: David Richardson | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Blackburn, 1973-1984
Linesmen: M. Beaman (Barton-u-Needwood); K. Cooper (Pontypridd)

Previous 5 vs. Leicester: ๐ŸŸฅ ๐ŸŸฅ ๐ŸŸฅ ๐ŸŸจ ๐ŸŸจ

Aston Villa.jpg
Head to Head

Total ๐Ÿ•’ 53 | ๐ŸŸฉ W16 (30% ) | ๐ŸŸจ D10 | ๐Ÿ‡บ(49% ) | ๐ŸŸฅ L27 (51% ) | โšฝ 101 | ๐Ÿฅ… 120 | GD -19

Match Stats

Not recorded

Ron Saunders | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 1974-1982

๐Ÿ•’ 112 | ๐ŸŸฉ | 51 ๐ŸŸจ | 30 ๐ŸŸฅ 31 | 1.63

Villa Career Form:

Top 6

๐ŸŸฉ 12 Apr 2025, Villa 3-0 Southampton, St Mary's TBL.png

Division One

Leicester City

0-6-1, 6 PTS

Aston Villa.jpg

Villa Park

Attendance: 36,652

GK Mark Wallington | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
LB Dennis Rofe | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB Jeff Blockley | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
D Alan Woollett | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
D Stephen Whitworth | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Steve Kember | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Jon Sammels | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Keith Weller | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
F Steve Earle | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CF Bob Lee | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CF Chris Garland | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |

Jimmy Bloomfield | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Aston Villa.jpg
Substitutes

No Substitutions Made

Unused Substitutes

M Alan Birchenall | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |

Yellow Cards (Warnings, Cautions, Bookings)

None

Red Cards (Ordered from Field of Play, Dismissals, Sendings Off)

None

Opposition Trophy Record

League Champions: โŒ
FA Cup Winners: โŒ
League Cup Winners: ๐Ÿ†
Last Trophy: 1963-64

Opposition Matchday Squad

Goalkeepers
GK Mark Wallington | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |

Defenders
CB Jeff Blockley | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
D Alan Woollett | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
D Stephen Whitworth | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |

Full Backs
LB Dennis Rofe | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |

Midfiedlers
M Steve Kember | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Jon Sammels | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Alan Birchenall | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Keith Weller | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |

Forwards
F Steve Earle | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CF Bob Lee | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CF Chris Garland | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |

Opposition Unavailable

Not Recorded

๐ŸŸฉ 12 Apr 2025, Villa 3-0 Southampton, St Mary's TBL.png
Aston Villa.jpg
Starting XI
GK John Burridge | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
๐Ÿ•’

41

โœ…

41

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

0

0

๐ŸŸฉ

12

๐ŸŸจ

15

๐ŸŸฅ

14

โ›”

9

๐Ÿฅ…

54

RB John Gidman | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
๐Ÿ•’

120

โœ…

119

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

1

11

๐ŸŸฉ

44

๐ŸŸจ

40

๐ŸŸฅ

36

CB Leighton Phillips | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ |
๐Ÿ•’

75

โœ…

71

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

4

2

๐ŸŸฉ

32

๐ŸŸจ

19

๐ŸŸฅ

24

CB Chris Nicholl | ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง |
๐Ÿ•’

214

โœ…

214

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

14

9

๐ŸŸฉ

93

๐ŸŸจ

61

๐ŸŸฅ

60

RB Gordon Smith | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
๐Ÿ•’

9

โœ…

9

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

0

1

๐ŸŸฉ

6

๐ŸŸจ

0

๐ŸŸฅ

3

M Dennis Mortimer | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
๐Ÿ•’

23

โœ…

23

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

0

3

๐ŸŸฉ

9

๐ŸŸจ

8

๐ŸŸฅ

6

M Alex Cropley | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
๐Ÿ•’

1

โœ…

1

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

0

0

๐ŸŸฉ

1

๐ŸŸจ

0

๐ŸŸฅ

0

W Frank Carrodus | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
๐Ÿ•’

101

โœ…

101

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

5

3

๐ŸŸฉ

46

๐ŸŸจ

28

๐ŸŸฅ

27

W Ray Graydon | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
๐Ÿ•’

218

โœ…

213

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

80

48

๐ŸŸฉ

105

๐ŸŸจ

52

๐ŸŸฅ

61

CF Andy Gray | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
๐Ÿ•’

42

โœ…

42

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

22

5

๐ŸŸฉ

13

๐ŸŸจ

15

๐ŸŸฅ

14

F Brian Little | ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
๐Ÿ•’

139

โœ…

132

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

41

30

๐ŸŸฉ

62

๐ŸŸจ

39

๐ŸŸฅ

38

Substitutes
None
๐Ÿ•’

๐Ÿ”

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

GK Sub

๐ŸŸฉ

๐ŸŸจ

๐ŸŸฅ

โ›”

๐Ÿฅ…

None
๐Ÿ•’

๐Ÿ”

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

Sub 1

๐ŸŸฉ

๐ŸŸจ

๐ŸŸฅ

None
๐Ÿ•’

๐Ÿ”

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

Sub 2

๐ŸŸฉ

๐ŸŸจ

๐ŸŸฅ

None
๐Ÿ•’

๐Ÿ”

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

Sub 3

๐ŸŸฉ

๐ŸŸจ

๐ŸŸฅ

None
๐Ÿ•’

๐Ÿ”

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

Sub 4

๐ŸŸฉ

๐ŸŸจ

๐ŸŸฅ

None
๐Ÿ•’

๐Ÿ”

โšฝ
๐Ÿ”ฅ

Sub 5

๐ŸŸฉ

๐ŸŸจ

๐ŸŸฅ

Match Media
On This Day
  • Villa climb back to 5th in the table after beating Leicester at Villa Park as centre forward Andy Gray ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ โšฝ scores for the fifth consecutive game and โšฝ nets his tenth goal of the season.

  • Villa ๐ŸŸฉ win for the first time in three League games to make it ๐ŸŸฉ four wins and ๐ŸŸฅ three defeats in seven division one games this season. 

  • Midfielder Alex Cropley ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ 25 makes his ๐Ÿ•’ debut appearance in a Villa shirt after joining from Arsenal for a fee of ยฃ125,000 on 21 September 1976 to become the 584th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

What they Said

โ€œWhen you consider that he [Alex Cropley on debut] has done very little training this week and this in fact was only his second full game in a month, I was very pleased with him.

โ€œHe helped us to tighten things up considerably in the middle.

โ€œMidfield is probably the most difficult of all positions in which to play, especially for a newcomer to a side, but he settled down quickly.

โ€œWe he is fully match fit he will make and even bigger contribution than he did today.โ€

Ron Saunders.

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