For what it is worth as a statistic, and accepting the fact that it cannot last. Aston Villa are now one of only five First Division teams who have not been beaten away from home.

Their young, enthusiastic team bolstered by a good old fashioned early goal, got their heads down at Goodison Park on Saturday to hold an unsettled Everton to a 1-1 draw in what manager Ron Saunders rightly described as a test of their character.

He said: "Considering that this was our fifth match of the season and we haven't yet put out the same side twice running because of injuries, we came through it well. f thought we did more than enough to deserve a point."

It was considerably against the tide of play when Mortimer, again a pillar of strength in Villa's engine room, forced his way through on the left and found Morley moving in to score with a powerful downward header.

But thereafter Villa's hold on an often untidy contest was always a tenuous one and they had their defenders, backed by an excellent Rimmer, in goal, to thank for the point which keeps them in a mid-table position.

Everton, who had started brightly with their new signing, Hartford, looking as though he had played all his football at Goodison, took a long time to recover from that setback, but the bulk of the action in the second-half took place in Villa's half.

It was then, as Everton volleyed and thundered, trying to pick up the pieces, that it fell to McNaught to organise a stout defensive display, and Rimmer, once knocked out under pressure. to show how well he can dominate the high ball. There were only five minutes to go when Kidd, always Everton's most dangerous striker, laid the ball back for full-back Bailey to equalise.