Aston Villa
Saturday, 26 February 1977
1976-77
5th Round
Won
3-0
Port Vale
-
FA Cup
Villa Park
Attendance: 48,812
๐ฉ 26 Feb 1977, Villa 3-0 Port Vale, Villa Park
Scorer(s) | Chris Nicholl | 18' | Brian Little | 79' | John Deehan | 86' |
Assist(s) | Alex Cropley | 86' |
Fixture List
๐ฉ 21 Aug 1976, Villa 4-0 West Ham, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฅ 25 Aug 1976, Villa 0-2 Manchester City, Maine Road
Division One
๐ฉ 28 Aug 1976, Villa 2-0 Everton, Goodison
Division One
๐ฉ 1 Sep 1976, Villa 3-0 Manchester City, Villa Park
League Cup
๐ฉ 4 Sep 1976, Villa 5-2 Ipswich, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฅ 11 Sep 1976, Villa 1-2 QPR, Loftus Road
Division One
๐ฅ 18 Sep 1976, Villa 1-2 Birmingham, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฉ 21 Sep 1976, Villa 2-1 Norwich, Villa Park
League Cup
๐ฉ 25 Sep 1976, Villa 2-0 Leicester, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฅ 2 Oct 1976, Villa 0-1 Stoke, Victoria Ground
Division One
๐ฉ 16 Oct 1976, Villa 1-0 Sunderland, Roker Park
Division One
๐ฉ 20 Oct 1976, Villa 5-1 Arsenal, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฉ 23 Oct 1976, Villa 3-1 Bristol City, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฉ 27 Oct 1976, Villa 5-1 Wrexham, Villa Park
League Cup
๐ฅ 30 Oct 1976, Villa 0-3 Liverpool, Anfield
Division One
๐ฉ 6 Nov 1976, Villa 3-2 United, Villa Park
Division One
๐จ 10 Nov 1976, Villa 1-1 Albion, Hawthorns
Division One
๐จ 20 Nov 1976, Villa 2-2 Coventry, Villa Park
Division One
๐จ 27 Nov 1976, Villa 1-1 Norwich, Carrow Road
Division One
๐ฉ 1 Dec 1976, Villa 2-0 Millwall, Villa Park
League Cup
๐ฉ 11 Dec 1976, Villa 3-1 Leeds, Elland Road
Division One
๐ฉ 15 Dec 1976, Villa 5-1 Liverpool, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฉ 18 Dec 1976, Villa 2-1 Newcastle, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฅ 27 Dec 1976, Villa 2-3 Boro, Ayresome
Division One
๐ฅ 1 Jan 1977, Villa 0-2 United, Old Trafford
Division One
๐ฉ 8 Jan 1977, Villa 1-0 Leicester, Filbert Street
FA Cup
๐ฉ 22 Jan 1977, Villa 1-0 West Ham, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฉ 29 Jan 1977, Villa 3-0 West Ham, Villa Park
FA Cup
๐จ 1 Feb 1977, Villa 0-0 QPR, Loftus Road
League Cup
๐ฉ 5 Feb 1977, Villa 2-0 Everton, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฅ 12 Feb 1977, Villa 0-1 Ipswich, Portman Road
Division One
๐จ 16 Feb 1977, Villa 2-2 QPR, Villa Park
League Cup
๐ฉ 22 Feb 1977, Villa 3-0 QPR, Highbury
League Cup
๐ฉ 26 Feb 1977, Villa 3-0 Port Vale, Villa Park
FA Cup
๐ฉ 2 Mar 1977, Villa 4-0 Derby, Villa Park
Division One
๐จ 5 Mar 1977, Villa 1-1 Leicester, Filbert Street
Division One
๐จ 12 Mar 1977, Villa 0-0 Everton, Wembley
League Cup
๐จ 16 Mar 1977, Villa 1-1 Everton, Hillsborough
League Cup
๐ฅ 19 Mar 1977, Villa 1-2 United, Old Trafford
FA Cup
๐ฉ 23 Mar 1977, Villa 4-1 Sunderland, Villa Park
Division One
๐จ 2 Apr 1977, Villa 0-0 Bristol City, Ashton Gate
Division One
๐ฉ 5 Apr 1977, Villa 1-0 Boro, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฅ 9 Apr 1977, Villa 1-2 Derby, Baseball Ground
Division One
๐ฉ 13 Apr 1977, Villa 3-2 Everton, Old Trafford
League Cup
๐ฉ 16 Apr 1977, Villa 3-2 Coventry, Highfield Road
Division One
๐ฉ 20 Apr 1977, Villa 2-1 Spurs, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฉ 23 Apr 1977, Villa 1-0 Norwich, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฅ 25 Apr 1977, Villa 0-3 Arsenal, Highbury
Division One
๐ฅ 30 Apr 1977, Villa 1-3 Spurs, White Hart Lane
Division One
๐จ 4 May 1977, Villa 1-1 Manchester City, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฉ 7 May 1977, Villa 2-1 Leeds, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฅ 10 May 1977, Villa 1-2 Birmingham, St Andrew's
Division One
๐ฅ 14 May 1977, Villa 2-3 Newcastle, St James'
Division One
๐ฉ 16 May 1977, Villa 1-0 Stoke, Villa Park
Division One
๐จ 20 May 1977, Villa 1-1 QPR, Villa Park
Division One
๐ฉ 23 May 1977, Villa 4-0 Albion, Villa Park
Division One
On This Day
Saturday, 26 February 1977
Villa beat third division side Port Vale in the FA Cup but Ron Saunders' tiny squad is creaking at the seams with injury and fatigue as they continue to battle for honours on three fronts.
Ron Saunders' Villa make it successive 3-0 cup victories as they get past third division Vale in the FA Cup 5th Round.
Last 5: ๐ฉ ๐ฅ ๐จ ๐ฉ ๐ฉ
Ron Saunders | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง ๓ ฟ | 1974-1982
๐ 137 | ๐ฉ | 66 ๐จ | 35 ๐ฅ 36 | 1.70
Villa Career Form:
Top 6
Game #3419
Match Record
Season | 1976-77 |
Matchday | #34 |
Manager Game | #137 |
Saturday, 26 February 1977
Game Record
Manager: Ron Saunders | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Birkenhead, 1974-1982
Referee: Arthur Jones | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Ormskirk, 1966-1977
Kick off: 3.00pm
HT Score: ๐ฉ 1-0
FT Result: ๐ฉ Won
FT Score: ๐ฉ 3-0
Last 5: ๐ฉ ๐ฅ ๐จ ๐ฉ ๐ฉ
Head to Head
Previous 5 vs. Port Vale: ๐ฉ ๐ฅ ๐ฉ ๐จ ๐ฉ
Total ๐ 7 | ๐ฉ W5 (71% ) | ๐จ D1 | ๐บ(86% ) | ๐ฅ L1 (14% ) | โฝ 19 | ๐ฅ 9 | GD 10
Trophy Cabinet
Aston Villa
League Champions: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
FA Cup Winners: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
League Cup Winners: ๐๐
Last Trophy: 1974-75
Port Vale
League Champions: โ
FA Cup Winners: โ
League Cup Winners: โ
Last Trophy: โ
Squad News
Debut Appearances
None
Final Appearances
None
Match Timeline
โฝ | 18โ Goal, 1-0, Chris Nicholl
๐ | HT Aston Villa 1-0 Port Vale
๐ | 74โ Sub off, Andy Gray, Sub on, Gordon Cowans
โฝ | 79โ Goal, 2-0, Brian Little
โฝ | 86โ Goal, 3-0, John Deehan, Assist by Alex Cropley
๐ | FT Aston Villa 3-0 Port Vale
Officials
Referee: Arthur Jones | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Ormskirk, 1966-1977
Linesmen: A. G. Bailey (Hereford); M. P. T. Scott (Nottingham)
Officials
Referee Profile
VAR Profile (Post 2021)
Officials
Villa Bookings
None
Villa Sendings Off
None
Opposition Bookings
None
Opposition Sendings Off
None
Match Stats
Not recorded
Line Up & Subs
Aston Villa
Ron Saunders | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 1974-1982
GK John Burridge | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB Chris Nicholl | ๐ฌ๐ง | โฝ |
RB John Gidman | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
FB John Robson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Alex Cropley | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | ๐ฅ |
M Leighton Phillips | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ |
M Dennis Mortimer | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
W Frank Carrodus | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
F Brian Little | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | โฝ |
F John Deehan | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | โฝ |
CF Andy Gray | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | ๐ |
Substitutes
๐ | M Gordon Cowans | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | for CF Andy Gray | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | 74' |
Unused Substitutes
None
Port Vale
Roy Sproson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
GK John Connaughton | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
LB Neil Griffiths | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB Max Thompson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB John Ridley | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB David Harris | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Kevin Kennerley | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Colin Tartt | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Terry Bailey | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Ken Beech | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
F John Rogers | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
F Ken Beamish | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Substitutes
No Substitutions Made
Unused Substitutes
F Derek Brownbill | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Team News
Aston Villa
Injury | 1 |
W Ray Graydon | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Ron Saunders names an unchanged line up.
Port Vale
Not Recorded
Matchday Squads
Aston Villa
Goalkeepers
GK John Burridge | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Defenders
CB Chris Nicholl | ๐ฌ๐ง |
Full Backs
RB John Gidman | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
FB John Robson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Midfielders
M Alex Cropley | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
M Leighton Phillips | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ |
M Dennis Mortimer | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Gordon Cowans | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Wingers
W Frank Carrodus | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Forwards
F Brian Little | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
F John Deehan | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CF Andy Gray | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
Port Vale
Goalkeepers
GK John Connaughton | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Defenders
CB Max Thompson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB John Ridley | ๐ด ๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB David Harris | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Full Backs
LB Neil Griffiths | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Midfielders
M Kevin Kennerley | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Colin Tartt | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Terry Bailey | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Ken Beech | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Forwards
F John Rogers | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
F Ken Beamish | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
F Derek Brownbill | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Match Media
What they Said
โBut what could I do [but select Andy Gray and Alex Cropley as neither was fit].
"I couldn't leave them both out because I only had one - Gordon Cowans - to put in.
โIn the end they both said they wanted to play so I decided to let them.
โGray was suffering more than Cropley and that was why I took him off when I did.โ
Ron Saunders.
โVilla are reaching the two matches-a-week stage now.
โA 12-strong first team squad just is not big enough.
โWhere is the cheque book? But then, where are the players?โ
*Birmingham Daily Post*
Monday, 28 February 1977
Match Highlights
Team Selection
Goalkeeper
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
Substitutes
None
๐
๐
โฝ
๐ฅ
Sub 4
๐ฉ
๐จ
๐ฅ
None
๐
๐
โฝ
๐ฅ
Sub 2
๐ฉ
๐จ
๐ฅ
None
๐
๐
โฝ
๐ฅ
Sub 3
๐ฉ
๐จ
๐ฅ
None
๐
๐
โฝ
๐ฅ
Sub 5
๐ฉ
๐จ
๐ฅ
1976-77
First Team Squad
GK Jake Findlay | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | #567 |
Goalkeeper
Where are they now?
Coventry City ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Died 2025
CB Chris Nicholl | ๐ฌ๐ง | #558 |
Centre Back
Where are they now?
Grimsby Town ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Died 2024
RB Gordon Smith | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | #583 |
Full Back
Where are they now?
Barnet ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Died 2014
RB Keith Masefield | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #575 |
Full Back
Where are they now?
DIO Haarlem ๐ณ๐ฑ Retired
M David T Hughes | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #587 |
Midfielder
Where are they now?
Worcester City ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Died 2023
M Ivor Linton | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #588 |
Midfielder
Where are they now?
Nรคrpes Kraft Fotbollsfรถrening ๐ซ๐ฎ Retired
W Steve Hunt | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #576 |
Winger
Where are they now?
Willenhall Town ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
CF John Deehan | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #579 |
Forward
Where are they now?
Barnsley ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
GK John Burridge | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #577 |
Goalkeeper
Where are they now?
Blyth Spartans ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
CB David Evans | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #593 |
Centre Back
Where are they now?
Brighouse Town ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
RB John Gidman | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #560 |
Full Back
Where are they now?
Darlington FC ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
LB Mick Buttress | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #586 |
Full Back
Where are they now?
Gillingham ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
M Dennis Mortimer | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #580 |
Midfielder
Where are they now?
Birmingham City ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
W Frank Carrodus | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #569 |
Winger
Where are they now?
Altrincham FC ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
CF Andy Gray | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | #578 |
Forward
Where are they now?
Cheltenham Town ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
CB Charlie Young | ๐จ๐พ | #585 |
Centre Back
Where are they now?
Gillingham ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
CB Leighton Phillips | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ | #572 |
Centre Back
Where are they now?
Exeter City ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
FB John Robson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #562 |
Full Back
Where are they now?
Aston Villa ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Died 2004
M Alex Cropley | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | #584 |
Midfielder
Where are they now?
Portsmouth ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
M Gordon Cowans | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #582 |
Midfielder
Where are they now?
Burnley ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
W Ray Graydon | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #552 |
Winger
Where are they now?
Oxford United ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
F Brian Little | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #555 |
Forward
Where are they now?
Aston Villa ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
Matchday Programme
League Table
