Game #3428
Saturday, 9 April 1977
Attendance: 28,061
Lost
Division One
7th (-)
Derby County
LWDWL
Baseball Ground
Villa lose to two second half goals at the Baseball Ground to remain seventh but are now ten points behind the leaders with five games in hand. But it is the tackles of Roy McFarland - which leave Villa with ten men, the state of the pitch, performance of the referee and questionable intimidatory tactics of Charlie George throughout the game on John Burridge - and which resulted in Derby’s lucky second goal - that dominate the headlines.
Derby County
2-1
Aston Villa
Assist(s) | Not recorded
KEY MAN
Brian Little, scored an early goal, but Derby win out after Villa are reduced to ten men due to Roy McFarland's tacking, Saturday, 9 April 1977.
PREVIOUS MATCH
NEXT MATCH
MATCH TIMELINE
10’ Goal, 1-0, Brian Little, Assist by Andy Gray
21’ Sub off, Frank Carrodus, Sub on, Gordon Cowans
45’ Player leaves field of play, Andy Gray, injury
HT Derby County 0-1 Aston Villa
61’ Goal, 1-1, (Derby County), Leighton James
84’ Goal, 1-2, (Derby County), Derek Hales
FT Derby County 2-1 Aston Villa
ON THIS DAY
Ron Saunders' Villa lose for the first time in six League games to make it sixteen wins, five draws and nine defeats in thirty division one games this season. As a result Villa have five games in hand over leaders Ipswich Town who are ten points ahead.
Aston Villa
Derby County
League Champions: 🏆🏆
FA Cup Winners: 🏆
League Cup Winners: ❌
Last Trophy: 1974-75
FIXTURE HISTORY
Derby County
Previous 5 vs. Derby County: | 🟥 | 🟥 | 🟥 | 🟩 | 🟩 |
FIXTURE DETAILS
Season | 1976-77 |
Matchday | #43 |
League Match | #30 |
Manager Game | #146 |
Saturday, 9 April 1977
MATCH SUMMARY
Manager: Ron Saunders | 🏴 | Birkenhead, 1974-1982
Referee: John Hunting | 🏴 | Leicester, 1968-1984
Kick off: 3.00pm
FT Result | Lost |
FT Score | 1-2 |
Last 5 Games | LWDWL |
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: John Hunting | 🏴 | Leicester, 1968-1984 🆘
Previous 5:
Last Match:
Cards: None
CARDS
TEAM NEWS
Ron Saunders names an unchanged line up.
TEAM STATS
Starting XI Average Age
| 25.19 |
Oldest Player |
CB Chris Nicholl | 30.51 |
Youngest Player |
F John Deehan | 19.69 |
MANAGER
MANAGER
Ron Saunders
Aston Villa
GK John Burridge |
CB Chris Nicholl |
RB John Gidman |
FB John Robson |
M Alex Cropley |
M Dennis Mortimer |
M Leighton Phillips |
W Frank Carrodus |
F Brian Little |
F John Deehan |
CF Andy Gray |
Derby County
Boulton, Webster, Langan, McFarland, Todd, Gemmill, Powell, James (g), Daly, Hales (g), George. Manager: Colin Murphy.
SUBSTITUTES
M Gordon Cowans for W Frank Carrodus |
SUBSTITUTES
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
None
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
SQUAD STATS
MATCHDAY SQUAD
SQUAD STATS
MATCHDAY SQUAD
UNAVAILABLE
None
UNAVAILABLE
Not Recorded
Player Abbreviations:
GK : Goalkeeper
LB, RB, FB : Left Back, Right Back, Full Back
CB, D : Centre Back, Defender
M, W : Midfielder. Winger
F, CF : Forward, Centre Forward
🟢 : Debut 🔴 : Final Game
Symbols:
⚽ | Goal
🔥 | Assist
🔁 | Substitution
🟨 | Booking
🟥 | Sending off
🆘 | Poor refereeing performance
DEBUT APPEARANCES
FINAL APPEARANCES
MATCH STATS
Not recorded
TABLE
PROGRAMME

MATCHDAY QUOTES
"If I said anything about McFarland's tackle on Carrodus I would be in trouble.
“I didn't see the Gray incident so I cannot comment.
“I am hoping for a miracle cure [for Andy Gray after he was carried off with damaged ankle ligaments after Roy McFarland’s tackle to be ready in time for the League Cup replay on Wednesday.
“He can not put his foot to the ground at the moment and time is running out for him.
“But we can live in hope.
"If looks as if that will rule him [Frank Carrodus] out for the rest of the season [Roy McFarland’s tackle that caused damaged knee ligaments].
"I haven't seen anything like it [Derby's mud flattened pitch which made a mockery of Villa’s attempts to play football] since Spain.”
Ron Saunders.
"The ankle is giving me pain and it is very swollen.
“I am just keeping my fingers crossed that it will be improved in the morning.
"If it is humanly possible I would love to play against Everton, but everything hinges on what happens in the next two days.
"When I crashed to the ground at Derby I honestly thought the ankle was broken.
"I felt a sickening pain and said to myself 'l've had it.'
“I don't know how it happened, but I suppose I twisted the ankle on impact."
Andy Gray.
"I am upset and disgusted at suggestions from some quarters that I fouled Gray and Carrodus causing their injuries."
"It's just not true. I have missed my share of important games through bad injuries and I appreciate how they must feel.
“But my challenges on both player's were fair. The referee did not award a foul for either incident.”
“We [Andy Gray and McFarland] both jumped for the ball. I don't know what happened. I certainly did not make contact with him. But Ron Webster, who was nearest to us, said afterwards that as Andy came down he twisted to try and get the ball.
"As far as Carrodus was concerned, I just don't see how I can be blamed for that either. I went for the ball with him and kicked it 50 yards away. It was a fair tackle."
Roy McFarland.
*Birmingham Daily Post*
Monday, 11 April 1977