Game #3467
Aston Villa

Wednesday, 7 December 1977
3rd Round
Last 5: ๐จ ๐ฉ ๐ฅ ๐ฅ ๐จ
GK Jimmy Rimmer | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB Ken McNaught | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
FB Gordon Smith | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
RB John Gidman | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Leighton Phillips | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ |
M Gordon Cowans | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M John Gregory | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ 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 |
CF Andy Gray | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
Ron Saunders | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 1974-1982

Substitutes
No Substitutions Made
Unused Substitutes
Not recorded
Yellow Cards (Warnings, Cautions, Bookings)
๐จ Gordon Smith, Dissent (1)
๐จ Andy Gray, Dissent (4)
Red Cards (Ordered from Field of Play, Dismissals, Sendings Off)
None
Trophy Record
League Champions: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
FA Cup Winners: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
League Cup Winners: ๐๐๐
Last Trophy: 1976-77
Matchday Squad
Unavailable
Injury | 3 |
FB John Robson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
F John Deehan | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Alex Cropley | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
Team News
Ron Saunders names an unchanged line up.
Team Stats
Starting XI Average Age
| 24.67 |
Oldest Player |
GK Jimmy Rimmer | ๐ด ๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 29.84 |
Youngest Player |
M Gordon Cowans | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 19.13 |
Debut Appearances
None
Final Appearances
None
On This Day
Villa take the lead at the San Mamรฉs ๐ช๐ธ and hold it until the final five minutes on a ground where Bilbao had ๐ช๐ธ not lost a European tie in eleven years but Bilbaoโs ๐ช๐ธ late equaliser though could not stop Villa progressing to the UEFA Cup quarter finals.
Centre back Ken McNaught ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ makes his ๐ 25th appearance in a Villa shirt.
Starting XI
Scorer(s) | Dennis Mortimer | 43' |
Assist(s) | John Gidman | 43' |
Match Timeline
โฝ | 43โ Goal, 1-0, Dennis Mortimer, Assist by John Gidman
๐ | HT Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Aston Villa
๐ฅ
| 85โ Goal, 1-1, (Athletic Bilbao), Dani
๐ | FT Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Aston Villa
๐จ | Booking, Gordon Smith, Dissent
๐จ | Booking, Andy Gray, Dissent
Season | 1977-78 |
Matchday | #26 |
Manager Game | #185 |
Wednesday, 7 December 1977
Match Record
Game Record
Manager: Ron Saunders | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Birkenhead, 1974-1982
Referee: Jean Dubach | ๐จ๐ญ | Nidau, 1977
HT Score: ๐ฉ 1-0
FT Result: ๐จ Drew
FT Score: ๐จ 1-1 (3-1)
Last 5: ๐จ ๐ฉ ๐ฅ ๐ฅ ๐จ
Officials
Referee: Jean Dubach | ๐จ๐ญ | Nidau, 1977
Match Stats
Not recorded
Ron Saunders | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 1974-1982
๐ 185 | ๐ฉ | 89 ๐จ | 47 ๐ฅ 49 | 1.70
Villa Career Form:
Top 6
What they Said
"Cropley is obviously my biggest worry.
โWe are leaving for Spain early and he will be receiving treatment right until the last possible moment.
โThere must be a slight chance for him. I would not be taking him if I didnโt think he might respond to treatment.
โWe realise that this is going to be a test of the sideโs character and determination to succeed against a very experienced European club.
โBilbao have a ground advantage and they will also have the backing of their loyal Basque followers.
โWe know how fanatical their fans can be having played there in a pre-season triangular contest in early August.โ
Ron Saunders, Pre Match.
---
โWe were a bit special in the first half when we produced some of the best football we have played all season.
โIn the second half we let them play a bit but I was really thrilled with the way we performed.
โOur midfield was magnificent and Mortimer and John Gregory were our stars.โ
Ron Saunders.
UEFA Cup
Athletic Bilbao
San Mamรฉs Stadium
Attendance: 39,000
GK Josรฉ รngel Iribar | ๐ช๐ธ |
LB Javier Escalza | ๐ช๐ธ |
D Josรฉ Marรญa Lasa | ๐ช๐ธ |
D Daniel Astrain | ๐ช๐ธ |
CB Josรฉ Ramรณn Alexanko | ๐ช๐ธ |
M Fernando Tirapu | ๐ช๐ธ |
M Javier Irureta | ๐ช๐ธ |
M Ignacio Churruca | ๐ช๐ธ |
W Dani | ๐ช๐ธ | โฝ |
W Josรฉ Mari Amorrortu | ๐ช๐ธ |
F Aitor Aguirre | ๐ช๐ธ | ๐ |
Koldo Aguirre | ๐ช๐ธ |
Substitutes
๐ | F Aitor Aguirre | ๐ช๐ธ | (RB รngel Marรญa Villar | ๐ช๐ธ |)
Unused Substitutes
Not Recorded
Yellow Cards (Warnings, Cautions, Bookings)
๐จ
Red Cards (Ordered from Field of Play, Dismissals, Sendings Off)
None
Opposition Trophy Record
La Liga Champions: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
Copa del Rey Winners: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
Last Trophy: 1972-73
Opposition Matchday Squad
Opposition Unavailable
Not Recorded
League Table
1977-78
Playing Squad































