Aston Villa

3-2-1, 7 PTS

Saturday, 16 September 1978

1978-79

5th (-)

Drew

1-1

Everton

Division One

Villa Park

Attendance: 38,636

🟨 16 Sep 1978, Villa 1-1 Everton, Villa Park

Scorer(s) | Tommy Craig | 42' |

Assist(s) | Gordon Cowans | 42' |

Fixture List

🟩 19 Aug 1978, Villa 1-0 Wolves, Villa Park

Division One

🟩 23 Aug 1978, Villa 4-1 Spurs, White Hart Lane

Division One

🟥 26 Aug 1978, Villa 0-1 Bristol City, Ashton Gate

Division One

🟩 30 Aug 1978, Villa 1-0 Wednesday, Villa Park

League Cup

🟨 2 Sep 1978, Villa 1-1 Southampton, Villa Park

Division One

🟩 9 Sep 1978, Villa 2-0 Ipswich, Portman Road

Division One

🟨 16 Sep 1978, Villa 1-1 Everton, Villa Park

Division One

🟥 23 Sep 1978, Villa 0-1 QPR, Loftus Road

Division One

🟥 30 Sep 1978, Villa 1-2 Forest, Villa Park

Division One

🟨 4 Oct 1978, Villa 1-1 Palace, Villa Park

League Cup

🟨 7 Oct 1978, Villa 1-1 Arsenal, Highbury

Division One

🟨 10 Oct 1978, Villa 0-0 Palace, Selhurst

League Cup

🟨 14 Oct 1978, Villa 2-2 United, Villa Park

Division One

🟩 16 Oct 1978, Villa 3-0 Palace, Highfield Road

League Cup

🟩 21 Oct 1978, Villa 1-0 Birmingham, St Andrews'

Division One

🟥 27 Oct 1978, Villa 0-2 Boro, Villa Park

Division One

🟨 4 Nov 1978, Villa 1-1 Manchester City, Villa Park

Division One

🟥 8 Nov 1978, Villa 0-2 Luton, Villa Park

League Cup

🟩 11 Nov 1978, Villa 4-0 Wolves, Molineux

Division One

🟩 18 Nov 1978, Villa 2-0 Bristol City, Villa Park

Division One

🟥 21 Nov 1978, Villa 0-2 Southampton, The Dell

Division One

🟨 25 Nov 1978, Villa 1-1 Albion, Hawthorns

Division One

🟩 9 Dec 1978, Villa 1-0 Chelsea, Stamford Bridge

Division One

🟨 16 Dec 1978, Villa 1-1 Norwich, Villa Park

Division One

🟨 23 Dec 1978, Villa 0-0 Derby, Baseball Ground

Division One

🟨 26 Dec 1978, Villa 2-2 Leeds, Villa Park

Division One

🟥 10 Jan 1979, Villa 0-2 Forest, City Ground

FA Cup

🟨 31 Jan 1979, Villa 1-1 Everton, Goodison

Division One

🟨 24 Feb 1979, Villa 1-1 United, Old Trafford

Division One

🟩 3 Mar 1979, Villa 1-0 Birmingham, Villa Park

Division One

🟩 7 Mar 1979, Villa 3-0 Bolton, Villa Park

Division One

🟥 10 Mar 1979, Villa 0-2 Boro, Ayresome

Division One

🟩 20 Mar 1979, Villa 3-1 QPR, Villa Park

Division One

🟥 24 Mar 1979, Villa 2-3 Spurs, Villa Park

Division One

🟨 28 Mar 1979, Villa 1-1 Coventry, Villa Park

Division One

🟥 4 Apr 1979, Villa 0-4 Forest, City Ground

Division One

🟨 7 Apr 1979, Villa 1-1 Coventry, Highfield Road

Division One

🟨 11 Apr 1979, Villa 3-3 Derby, Villa Park

Division One

🟥 14 Apr 1979, Villa 0-1 Leeds, Elland Road

Division One

🟩 16 Apr 1979, Villa 3-1 Liverpool, Villa Park

Division One

🟩 21 Apr 1979, Villa 2-1 Norwich, Carrow Road

Division One

🟩 25 Apr 1979, Villa 5-1 Arsenal, Villa Park

Division One

🟩 28 Apr 1979, Villa 2-1 Chelsea, Villa Park

Division One

🟨 2 May 1979, Villa 2-2 Ipswich, Villa Park

Division One

🟨 5 May 1979, Villa 0-0 Bolton, Burnden

Division One

🟥 8 May 1979, Villa 0-3 Liverpool, Anfield

Division One

🟥 11 May 1979, Villa 0-1 Albion, Villa Park

Division One

🟩 15 May 1979, Villa 3-2 Manchester City, Maine Road

Division One

On This Day

Saturday, 16 September 1978

A quality strike from Tommy Craig 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 equalises the score against Everton but Villa are 🟨 held for the second successive League game at Villa Park.
Ron Saunders' 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Villa 🟨 draw at home to make it 🟩 three wins, 🟨 two draws and 🟥 a defeat in 🕒 six division one games so far this season.
Right back Gary Williams 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 17 makes his debut in a Villa shirt to become the 598th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Last 5: 🟥 🟩 🟨 🟩 🟨

Ron Saunders | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 1974-1982

🕒 220 | 🟩 | 104 🟨 | 56 🟥 60 | 1.67

Villa Career Form:

Top 6

Game #3502

Match Record

Season | 1978-79 |
Matchday | #7 |
League Match | #6 |
Manager Game | #220 |
Saturday, 16 September 1978

Game Record

Manager: Ron Saunders | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | Birkenhead, 1974-1982
Referee: John Homewood | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | Surrey, 1967-1978
Kick off: 3.00pm
HT Score: 🟨 1-1
FT Result: 🟨 Drew
FT Score: 🟨 1-1
Last 5: 🟥 🟩 🟨 🟩 🟨

Head to Head

Previous 5 vs. Everton: 🟨 🟩 🟥 🟥 🟥

Total 🕒 141 | 🟩 W54 (38% ) | 🟨 D31 | 🇺(60% ) | 🟥 L56 (40% ) | ⚽ 232 | 🥅 238 | GD -6

Trophy Cabinet

Aston Villa

League Champions: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 🏆
FA Cup Winners: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 🏆🏆
League Cup Winners: 🏆🏆🏆
Last Trophy: 1976-77

Everton

League Champions: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 🏆🏆
FA Cup Winners: 🏆🏆🏆
League Cup Winners: ❌
Last Trophy: 1969-70

Squad News

Debut Appearances

🟢 RB Gary Williams | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #598 | Youth team promotion

Final Appearances

None

Match Timeline

Officials

Referee: John Homewood | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | Surrey, 1967-1978
Linesmen: J. Brimble (Hengoed); A. Roberts (Treharris)

Officials

Referee Profile

VAR Profile (Post 2021)

Officials

Villa Bookings

🟨 Allan Evans, Tackle (1)

Villa Sendings Off

None

Opposition Bookings

🟨 Geoff Nulty

Opposition Sendings Off

None

Match Stats

Not recorded

Line Up & Subs

Aston Villa

Ron Saunders | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 1974-1982

GK Jimmy Rimmer | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
CB David Evans | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
CB Allan Evans | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 | 🟨 |
CB Ken McNaught | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |
M John Gregory | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
M Tommy Craig | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 | ⚽ |
M Gary Shelton | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 🔁 |
M Gordon Cowans | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 🔥 |
M Dennis Mortimer | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
F Brian Little | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
CF Andy Gray | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |

Substitutes

🔁 | RB Gary Williams | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 🟢 | for M Gary Shelton | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 77’ |

Unused Substitutes

None

Everton

Gordon Lee (ex) | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

GK George Wood | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |
LB Terry Darracott | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
LB Mike Pejic (ft) | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
D Billy Wright | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
CB Mick Lyons | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
M Geoff Nulty | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 🟨 |
M Martin Dobson | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
M Andy King | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
M Dave Thomas | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
CF Bob Latchford | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
CF Mickey Walsh | 🇮🇪 | ⚽ |

Substitutes

No Substitutions Made

Unused Substitutes

M Trevor Ross | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |

Team News

Aston Villa

Injury | 5 |
M Alex Cropley | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |
F John Deehan | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
M Frank Carrodus | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
FB Gordon Smith | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |
RB John Gidman | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

Gary Shelton and David Evans replace Allan Evans and Gordon Smith.

Everton

Not Recorded

Matchday Squads

Aston Villa

Goalkeepers
GK Jimmy Rimmer | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

Defenders
CB David Evans | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
CB Allan Evans | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |
CB Ken McNaught | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |

Full Backs
RB Gary Williams | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

Midfielders
M John Gregory | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
M Tommy Craig | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |
M Gary Shelton | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
M Gordon Cowans | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
M Dennis Mortimer | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

Forwards
F Brian Little | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
CF Andy Gray | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |

Everton

Goalkeepers
GK George Wood | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |

Defenders
D Billy Wright | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
CB Mick Lyons | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

Full Backs
LB Terry Darracott | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
LB Mike Pejic (ft) | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

Midfiekders
M Geoff Nulty | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
M Martin Dobson | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
M Andy King | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
M Dave Thomas | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
M Trevor Ross | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |

Forwards
CF Bob Latchford | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
CF Mickey Walsh | 🇮🇪 |

Match Media

What they Said

Fit again Tommy Craig earned Aston Villa a point with a super 35 yarder against championship challengers Everton at Villa Park today.

Craig pounced after the Merseyside outfit had taken an early lead through Mickey Walsh.

Villa were twice lucky not to fall behind in the opening two minutes.

In Everton's first attack King sent Walsh racing through on the left side and the striker was only a foot over with a 20-yard drive.

A minute later, Latchford should have done better when he miscued from six yards after fine work by King and Walsh.

Villa’s reply was a fierce first-time shot from Mortimer after fine work by Gray had opened up the Everton defence.

Thomas was proving lively for Everton on the left flank but Villa soon began to apply some pressure which sometimes had the Everton defence at panic stations.

Everton managed to weather the early Villa storm and then take something of a hold on the game in midfield with King particularly busy.

Thomas also gave young David Evans replacing injured Gidman a torrid time and he paved the way for the first goal.

In the 35th minute, he went past the young full-back who then fouled him near the corner flag. Thomas swung the free kick towards WALSH who angled his header towards the far post and Rimmer and a defender could only help the ball home.

Three minutes before the interval. Villa were level again following a free kick.

Mortimer touched the free kick to Cowans who fed the ball to CRAIG. whose first time left-foot drive from 25 yards curled round the wall and inside the post.

Halftime: Aston Villa 1, Everton 1.

Villa produced a spell of fierce attacking at the start of the second half and were unlucky not to go ahead.

McNaught saw a header go flashing wide. Little tried a shot which shaved the post and Everton defender Pejic had to kick off the line when McNaught bustled his way into the goal area with Wood beaten.

Match Highlights

Team Selection

Goalkeeper

GK Jimmy Rimmer | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

🕒

✅

⚽

🔥

🟩

🟨

🟥

⛔

🥅

Defenders

CB David Evans | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

🕒

✅

⚽

🔥

🟩

🟨

🟥

CB Allan Evans | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |

🕒

✅

⚽

🔥

🟩

🟨

🟥

CB Ken McNaught | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |

🕒

✅

⚽

🔥

🟩

🟨

🟥

M Tommy Craig | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |

🕒

✅

⚽

🔥

🟩

🟨

🟥

Midfielders

M Dennis Mortimer | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

🕒

130

✅

130

⚽

🔥

🟩

🟨

🟥

M John Gregory | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

🕒

✅

⚽

🔥

🟩

🟨

🟥

M Gordon Cowans | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

🕒

✅

⚽

🔥

🟩

🟨

🟥

M Gary Shelton | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

🕒

✅

⚽

🔥

🟩

🟨

🟥

Forwards

CF Andy Gray | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 |

🕒

127

✅

126

⚽

🔥

🟩

🟨

🟥

F Brian Little | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

🕒

245

✅

238

⚽

🔥

🟩

114

🟨

🟥

Substitutes

None

🕒

🔁

⚽

🔥

GK Sub

🟩

🟨

🟥

⛔

🥅

RB Gary Williams | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

🕒

🔁

⚽

Sub 1

🔥

🟩

🟨

🟥

None

🕒

🔁

⚽

🔥

Sub 4

🟩

🟨

🟥

None

🕒

🔁

⚽

🔥

Sub 2

🟩

🟨

🟥

None

🕒

🔁

⚽

🔥

Sub 3

🟩

🟨

🟥

None

🕒

🔁

⚽

🔥

Sub 5

🟩

🟨

🟥

1978-79

First Team Squad

GK Jimmy Rimmer | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #591 |

Goalkeeper

Where are they now?

Hamrun Spartans 🇲🇹 Retired

CB David Evans | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #593 |

Centre Back

Where are they now?

Brighouse Town 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

LB Gary Williams | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #598 |

Full Back

Where are they now?

Bradford City 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

RB Kenny Swain | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #602 |

Full Back

Where are they now?

Crewe Alexandra 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

M Dennis Mortimer | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #580 |

Midfielder

Where are they now?

Birmingham City 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

M Ivor Linton | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #588 |

Midfielder

Where are they now?

Närpes Kraft Fotbollsförening 🇫🇮 Retired

M Tommy Craig | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 | #592 |

Midfielder

Where are they now?

Hibernian 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Retired

CF Andy Gray | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 | #578 |

Forward

Where are they now?

Cheltenham Town 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

F Joe Ward | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 | #603 |

Forward

Where are they now?

St Johnstone 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Retired

CB Allan Evans | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 | #594 |

Centre Back

Where are they now?

Darlington FC 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

CB Ken McNaught | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 | #590 |

Centre Back

Where are they now?

Sheffield United 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

RB Gordon Smith | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 | #583 |

Full Back

Where are they now?

Barnet 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Died 2014

M Alex Cropley | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 | #584 |

Midfielder

Where are they now?

Portsmouth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

M Gary Shelton | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #595 |

Midfielder

Where are they now?

Chester City 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

M John Gregory | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #589 |

Midfielder

Where are they now?

Bolton Wanderers 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

W Frank Carrodus | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #569 |

Winger

Where are they now?

Altrincham FC 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

F Brian Little | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #555 |

Forward

Where are they now?

Aston Villa 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

CF John Deehan | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #579 |

Forward

Where are they now?

Barnsley 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

CB Brendan Ormsby | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #599 |

Centre Back

Where are they now?

Wigan Athletic 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

CB Leighton Phillips | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 | #572 |

Centre Back

Where are they now?

Exeter City 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

RB John Gidman | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #560 |

Full Back

Where are they now?

Darlington FC 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

M Colin Gibson | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #601 |

Midfielder

Where are they now?

Walsall 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

M Gordon Cowans | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #582 |

Midfielder

Where are they now?

Burnley 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

M Lee Jenkins | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #597 |

Midfielder

Where are they now?

FinnPa 🇫🇮 Retired

W Willie Young | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 | #600 |

Winger

Where are they now?

Torquay United 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

F Gary Shaw | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #596 |

Forward

Where are they now?

Ernest Borel 🇭🇰 Died 2024

F Kevin Ready | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | Unused Sub |

Forward

Where are they now?

Bromsgrove Rovers 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Retired

Matchday Programme

League Table