Game #3483
Aston Villa
12-7-11, 31 PTS

Saturday, 18 March 1978
10th= (+1)
Last 5: ๐จ ๐จ ๐ฅ ๐ฅ ๐ฉ
GK Jimmy Rimmer | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
RB John Gidman | 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 |
M Gordon Cowans | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M John Gregory | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | โฝ | โฝ |
M Leighton Phillips | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ |
M Dennis Mortimer | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | โฝ | ๐ฅ |
W Frank Carrodus | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐ฅ | ๐ฅ |
F Brian Little | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐ฅ |
F John Deehan | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | โฝ |
Ron Saunders | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 1974-1982

Substitutes
No Substitutions Made
Unused Substitutes
CB Allan Evans | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
Yellow Cards (Warnings, Cautions, Bookings)
None
Red Cards (Ordered from Field of Play, Dismissals, Sendings Off)
None
Trophy Record
UEFA Cup Winners Cup: โ
League Champions: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
FA Cup Winners: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
League Cup Winners: ๐๐๐
Last Trophy: 1976-77
Matchday Squad
Goalkeepers
GK Jimmy Rimmer | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Defenders
CB Ken McNaught | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
CB Allan Evans | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
Full Backs
RB John Gidman | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
FB Gordon Smith | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
Midfielders
M Gordon Cowans | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M John Gregory | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Leighton Phillips | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ |
M Dennis Mortimer | 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 |
Unavailable
Injury | 3 |
FB John Robson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Alex Cropley | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
CF Andy Gray | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
Team News
Ron Saunders names an unchanged line up.
Team Stats
Starting XI Average Age
| 24.80 |
Oldest Player |
GK Jimmy Rimmer | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 30.12 |
Youngest Player |
M Gordon Cowans | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 19.40 |
Debut Appearances
None
Final Appearances
None

Won
4-1
๐ฉ 18 Mar 1978, Villa 4-1 West Ham, Villa Park
Scorer(s) | John Gregory | 18' | 79' | John Deehan | 33' | Dennis Mortimer | 75' |
Assist(s) | Frank Carrodus | 18' | 75' | Brian Little | 33' | Dennis Mortimer | 79' |
Match Timeline
โฝ | 18โ Goal, 1-0, John Gregory, Assist by Frank Carrodus
๐ฅ
| 25' Goal, 1-1, (West Ham United), Trevor Brooking
โฝ | 33โ Goal, 2-1, John Deehan, Assist by Brian Little
๐ | HT Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham United
โฝ | 75โ Goal, 3-1, Dennis Mortimer, Assist by Frank Carrodus
โฝ | 79โ Goal, 4-1, John Gregory, Assist by Dennis Mortimer
๐ | FT Aston Villa 4-1 West Ham United
Season | 1977-78 |
Matchday | #42 |
League Match | #30 |
Manager Game | #201 |
Saturday, 18 March 1978
Match Record
Game Record
Manager: Ron Saunders | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Birkenhead, 1974-1982
Referee: Derek Nippard | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Christchurch, 1969-1978
Kick off: 3.00pm
HT Score: ๐ฉ 2-1
FT Result: ๐ฉ Won
FT Score: ๐ฉ 4-1
Last 5: ๐จ ๐จ ๐ฅ ๐ฅ ๐ฉ
Officials
Referee: Derek Nippard | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Christchurch, 1969-1978
Linesmen: F. A. Harwood (Derby); C. W. Gardner (Gloucester)
Match Stats
Not recorded
Ron Saunders | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 1974-1982
๐ 201 | ๐ฉ | 94 ๐จ | 51 ๐ฅ 56 | 1.66
Villa Career Form:
Top 6

Division One
West Ham United
6-8-19, 20 PTS
Villa Park
Attendance: 28,275
GK Bobby Ferguson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
D John McDowell | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
D Tommy Taylor | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Frank Lampard | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Pat Holland | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Billy Bonds | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Alan Devonshire | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐ |
M Trevor Brooking | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | โฝ |
M Alan Curbishley (ft) | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CF Derek Hales | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CF David Cross | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
John Lyall | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Substitutes
๐ | M Alan Devonshire | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | (CB Alvin Martin | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |)
Unused Substitutes
None
Yellow Cards (Warnings, Cautions, Bookings)
None
Red Cards (Ordered from Field of Play, Dismissals, Sendings Off)
None
Opposition Trophy Record
UEFA Cup Winners Cup: ๐
League Champions: โ
FA Cup Winners: ๐๐
League Cup Winners: โ
Last Trophy: 1974-75
Opposition Matchday Squad
Goalkeepers
GK Bobby Ferguson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
Defenders
D John McDowell | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
D Tommy Taylor | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB Alvin Martin | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Midfielders
M Frank Lampard | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Pat Holland | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Billy Bonds | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Alan Devonshire | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Trevor Brooking | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Alan Curbishley (ft) | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Forwards
CF Derek Hales | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CF David Cross | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Opposition Unavailable
Not Recorded

Starting XI
Match Media
On This Day
Villa make it โฝ fifteen goals against West Ham in their last five visits to Villa Park.
Villa record their biggest ๐ฉ win of the season to date with a โฝ brace from John Gregory ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ, a โฝ first of the season from Dennis Mortimer ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ and another John Deehan ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฝ strike.
It is therefore a curious time - if ever there is a good one - for the tedious reappearance of Herbert Douglas Ellis on the scene with one aim - a destabilising power grab for his benefit and on-one else's.
The ๐ฉ win is Villa's the first in six in all competitions to make it ๐ฉ twelve wins, ๐จ seven draws and ๐ฅ eleven defeats in ๐ thirty division one games this season.
Midfielder Dennis Mortimer ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ contributes his โฝ ๐ฅ 30th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his ๐ 111th appearance.
What they Said
โI regret the necessity yet again of having to deny that there is a rift between Ron Saunders and the board.
โClashes between the manager and Mr. Doug Ellis have been reported in a newspaper and as Mr. Ellis has been specifically named, it is proper that questions of this nature should be addressed to him and not me.
"I can, however, state categorically that the relationship between Ron Saunders and the six other directors, including myself, has never been better.
โThe board will be discussing a contract renewal with the manager in good time before his current agreement expires.
"I am horrified that this hoary old chestnut should come up again and I think the club statement makes the situation perfectly clear."
Villa chairman, Sir William Dugdale.






















