Aston Villa
8-4-6, 20 PTS
Saturday, 10 December 1977
1977-78
10th (+1)
Won
3-0
West Bromwich Albion
8-7-4, 23 PTS
Division One
Villa Park
Attendance: 41,631
๐ฉ 10 Dec 1977, Villa 3-0 Albion, Villa Park
Scorer(s) | Gordon Cowans | 39' | Andy Gray | 44' | John Gidman | 54' |
Assist(s) | John Gidman | 39' | 44' |
Fixture List
On This Day
Saturday, 10 December 1977
Ron Saunders' Villa hammer Albion despite playing the second half with 10 men following midfielder Alex Cropley's ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ double leg break.
Villa make it ๐ฉ eight wins, ๐จ four draws and ๐ฅ six defeats in ๐ eighteen division one games this season but suffer at the hands of "Albionโs over-aggressive display" as another poor refereeing performance - this one widely condemned - sees midfielder Alex Cropley's ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ career all but ended as Villa cruise to victory over Ronnie Allen's thugs.
A disgraceful, shaming, disgusting performance from referee Jim Bent is universally condemned, an official who should never be allowed to referee again. In an era of rank poor officiating the depths of Bent's incompetence, or worse, is simply indefensible.
Right back John Gidman ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ contributes his ๐ฅ 25th assist s in a Villa shirt on his ๐ 174th appearance at a rate of one every 5.61 games. It is Gidmanโs ๐ฅ 10th assist in ๐ 35 games having taken ๐ 112 matches to contribute his first 10 ๐ฅ.
Forward Brian Little ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ secures his ๐ฉ 100th win in a Villa shirt on his ๐ 211th appearance.
Last 5: ๐ฉ ๐ฅ ๐ฅ ๐จ ๐ฉ
Ron Saunders | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 1974-1982
๐ 186 | ๐ฉ | 90 ๐จ | 47 ๐ฅ 49 | 1.70
Villa Career Form:
Top 6
Game #3468
Match Record
Season | 1977-78 |
Matchday | #27 |
League Match | #18 |
Manager Game | #186 |
Saturday, 10 December 1977
Game Record
Manager: Ron Saunders | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Birkenhead, 1974-1982
Referee: Jim Bent | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Hemel Hempstead, 1975-1977 ๐
Kick off: 3.00pm
HT Score: ๐ฉ 2-0
FT Result: ๐ฉ Won
FT Score: ๐ฉ 3-0
Last 5: ๐ฉ ๐ฅ ๐ฅ ๐จ ๐ฉ
Head to Head
Previous 5 vs. Albion: ๐ฅ ๐ฅ ๐ฉ ๐จ ๐ฉ
Total ๐ 121 | ๐ฉ W55 (45% ) | ๐จ D21 | ๐บ(63% ) | ๐ฅ L45 (37% ) | โฝ 198 | ๐ฅ 184 | GD 14
Trophy Cabinet
Aston Villa
League Champions: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
FA Cup Winners: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
League Cup Winners: ๐๐๐
Last Trophy: 1976-77
West Bromwich Albion
League Champions: ๐
FA Cup Winners: ๐๐๐๐๐
League Cup Winners: ๐
Last Trophy: 1967-68
Squad News
Debut Appearances
None
Final Appearances
None
Match Timeline
๐ | 18โ Sub off, Ken McNaught, Sub on, Gordon Cowans
โฝ | 35โ Goal, 1-0, Gordon Cowans, Assist by John Gidman
๐ | 44โ Player retires from field of play with injury, Alex Cropley
โฝ | 44โ Goal, 2-0, Andy Gray, Assist by John Gidman
๐ | HT Aston Villa 2-0 West Bromwich Albion
โฝ | 54โ Goal, 3-0, John Gidman
๐ | FT Aston Villa 3-0 West Bromwich Albion
๐จ | Booking, Leighton Phillips, Heavy tackle.
Officials
Referee: Jim Bent | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Hemel Hempstead, 1975-1977
Linesmen: K. F. Bissix (Bristol); A. Garland (Bristol)
Officials
Referee Profile
VAR Profile (Post 2021)
Officials
Villa Bookings
๐จ Leighton Phillips, Heavy tackle (9)
Villa Sendings Off
None
Opposition Bookings
๐จ Bryan Robson
๐จ Len Cantello
๐จ Alistair Brown
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 Jimmy Rimmer | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB Ken McNaught | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | ๐ |
FB Gordon Smith | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
RB John Gidman | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐ฅ | ๐ฅ | โฝ |
M Leighton Phillips | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ | ๐จ |
M Alex Cropley | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | ๐ | โ |
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 | โฝ |
Substitutes
๐ | M Gordon Cowans | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | โฝ | for CB Ken McNaught | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | 18' |
Unused Substitutes
None
West Bromwich Albion
Ronnie Allen | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
GK Tony Godden | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
RB Paddy Mulligan | ๐ฎ๐ช |
CB Aly Robertson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
D John Wile | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
LB Derek Statham | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Bryan Robson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐จ |
M Len Cantello | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐จ |
W Laurie Cunningham | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐ |
CF Alistair Brown | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | ๐จ |
CF Cyrille Regis (ft) | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CF Tony Brown | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Substitutes
๐ | W Laurie Cunningham | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | (M Mick Martin | ๐ฎ๐ช |)
Unused Substitutes
None
Team News
Aston Villa
Injury | 2 |
FB John Robson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
F John Deehan | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Alex Cropley replaces Gordon Cowans.
West Bromwich Albion
Not Recorded
Matchday Squads
Aston Villa
Goalkeepers
GK Jimmy Rimmer | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Defenders
CB Ken McNaught | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
Full Backs
FB Gordon Smith | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
RB John Gidman | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Midfielders
M Leighton Phillips | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ |
M Alex Cropley | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
M John Gregory | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ 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 |
CF Andy Gray | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
West Bromwich Albion
Goalkeepers
GK Tony Godden | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Defenders
CB Aly Robertson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
D John Wile | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Full Backs
RB Paddy Mulligan | ๐ฎ๐ช |
LB Derek Statham | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Midfielders
M Bryan Robson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Mick Martin | ๐ฎ๐ช |
M Len Cantello | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Wingers
W Laurie Cunningham | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Forwards
CF Alistair Brown | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
CF Cyrille Regis (ft) | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CF Tony Brown | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Match Media

What they Said
"I don't want to disappoint anybody, but these things take time [signing a replace for Alex Cropley].
"I am not at all certain now that I will be able to sign a new player before Thursdayโs midnight UEFA Cup Quarter Final deadline.
โI am not allowed to comment on the referee [Jim Bentโs handling of the game.
โBut we shall be making an official complaint through the appropriate channels.
โIt was a late tackle. It was over zealous.
โBut there was no way the tBrown could have done that on purpose.โ
Ron Saunders.
โAs soon as I was tackled I knew what had happened [broken tibula and fibula in the left leg] because I heard the cracks.
โThe tackles was late and a bit high.
โBut he didnโt go over the top of the ball.
โI thought the referee was right to book him. But that was enough.
โI have played with Ally Brown since we were 14 year olds in Scottish Junior Football and he is not an over the top merchant.
โI nipped in to beat him to the ball. But he carried through with his tackle.
โI had all my weight on my left leg when he connected.
โI felt I had been playing quite well this season and there had been talk about Argentine [World Cup].
โBut I must forget about that now and concentrate on my recovery.
โI am not bitter about it and I have no hard feelings.
โYou have to be prepared to accept knocks in this game.โ
Alex Cropley.
โIt was an accident. I was the cause of the injury and I was as sick as anyone about it.
โBut anybody who knows me must also know that I have never gone over the top intentionally in my life.
Ally Brown.
โI suppose on reflection, I might have been stricter at the start. But it is easy to say that after the event.
โI could see no intent on his [Ally Brownโs] part and I checked this with my linesman.
โCropley jumped over Brown to win the ball, Brown followed through catching Cropley at the back of the leg.โ
Referee Jim Bent.
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
1977-78
First Team Squad
Matchday Programme



























