"Do you want to bet against us?"
Ron Saunders, 14th April 1981
Game #384
Aston Villa
Saturday, 23 September 1899
Won
1st=
WWLWW
Division One
Attendance: 20,000
Blackburn Rovers
Villa Park
Jack Devey scored a brace as reigning Champions Villa win their fourth game in five to remain in joint first place in Division One.
Aston Villa (Champions)
3-1
Blackburn Rovers
Assists(s) | Not recorded
KEY MAN
Jack Devey, scored a brace to beat Blackburn, Saturday, 23 September 1899.
PREVIOUS MATCH
NEXT MATCH
MATCH TIMELINE
Saturday, 23 September 1899
[Exact timings not recorded]
1’ Goal, 0-1, (Blackburn Rovers)
30’ Goal, 1-1, Fred Wheldon
HT Aston Villa 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
Goal, 2-1, Jack Devey
Goal, 3-1, Jack Devey
FT Aston Villa 3-1 Blackburn Rovers
ON THIS DAY
Despite going a goal behind in the 1', reigning Champions Villa win their fourth game in five to remain in joint first place in Division One.
Aston Villa
Blackburn Rovers
League Champions: ❌
FA Cup Winners: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Last Trophy: 1890–91
FIXTURE HISTORY
Blackburn Rovers
Previous 5 vs. Blackburn: | 🟩 | 🟥 | 🟩 | 🟩 | 🟨 |
FIXTURE DETAILS
Season | 1899-00 |
Matchday | #5 |
League Match | #5 |
Manager Game | #358 |
Saturday, 23 September 1899
MATCH SUMMARY
Manager | George Ramsay led Management Committee |
Referee | Fred Bye, Sheffield |
FT Score | 3-1 |
FT Result | Won |
Last 5 Games | WWLWW |
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Fred Bye
CARDS
TEAM NEWS
Villa name an unchanged line up from the team that beat Everton last time out.
TEAM STATS
Starting XI Average Age
| 26.94 |
Oldest Player |
F Jack Devey | 32.76 |
Youngest Player |
CF Billy Garraty | 20.98 |
MANAGER
MANAGER
George Ramsay led Management Committee
Aston Villa
GK Billy George |
CB Jimmy Cowan |
FB Albert Evans |
FB Howard Spencer |
M Tommy Bowman |
M Jimmy Crabtree |
W Charlie Athersmith |
W Steve Smith |
F Fred Wheldon |
F Jack Devey |
CF Billy Garraty |
Blackburn Rovers
SUBSTITUTES
No Substitutions permitted in period
SUBSTITUTES
No Substitutions Permitted in Period
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
No Substitutions permitted in period
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
No Substitutions Permitted in Period
SQUAD STATS
MATCHDAY SQUAD
SQUAD STATS
MATCHDAY SQUAD
UNAVAILABLE
Not recorded
UNAVAILABLE
Not Recorded
Player Positions:
GK : Goalkeeper
CB, D, B : Centre Back, Defender, Back
FB, LB, RB, WH : Full Back, Left Back, Right Back, Wing Back, Wing Half
M, CH, LH, RH : Midfielder, Centre Half, Left Half, Right Half
W, OL, OR : Winger, Outside Left, Outside Right
F, IF, IL, IR : Forward, Inside Forward, Inside Left, Inside Right, Second Striker, False 9
CF : Centre Forward
Match Symbols:
⚽ | Goal
🔥 | Assist
🔁 | Substitution
🟨 | Booking
🟥 | Sending off
🆘 | Poor refereeing performance
🟢 : Debut 🔴 : Final Game
DEBUT APPEARANCES
FINAL APPEARANCES
MATCH STATS
Not recorded
TABLE
PROGRAMME
MATCHDAY QUOTES
"The Rovers now attacked furiously but were repulsed, and taking the game in hand again, Devey scored a third goal for the homesters."
*The Sporting Life*
Monday, 25 September 1899
ASTON VILLA V. BLACKBURN ROVERS
The encounter between these teams occasioned a good deal of interest in Midland football circles, although, prior to the start, the Villa were looked upon as almost certain to collar the brace of points.
The weather was of a cold, blusterous nature, and rain fell at intervals just previous to the hour fixed for the start. This may have kept many away, for the attendance, 18,000, was by no means so large as generally lines the Villa enclosure.
The home team was at full strength, but the strangers were in a fix as regards their custodian, the position being given to Knowles, the reserve man.
There was a strong wind blowing from goal to goal, and, winning the toss, the Villa set their rivals to face this at the outset.
The opening was of a most sensational character, for straight away the Rovers forced a corner, and in less than a minute from the start the ball was driven into the Villa net by Hulse.
The homesters retaliated powerfully, and after Wheldon had just shot past, Smith sent in a beauty, which Knowles did well to clear, while from a corner the champions just missed the mark by inches.
After a spell of defensive work, Hulse outwitted Cowan, and the visitors looked dangerous until Spencer gave the the right-about.
The Champions attacked vigorously, and twice Athersmith, with terrific shots, just skimmed the bar.
A surprise break away by William and Crook, followed by a feeble kick by Evans, led up to an unproductive corner for Blackburn. Then followed a spirited onslaught on the Rovers’ goal, Knowles twice scoping out deadly efforts by Smith and Athersmith, while from long range, Devey and Bowman had really hard lines with brilliant attempts.
Every break away by the strangers seemed to spell danger, and on one occasion a shot from Williams rebounded off the post when the backs were beaten.
Try as they would the Villa could not get on terms, Knowles clearing brilliantly a powerful effort by Wheldon, while Brandon completely relieved the pressure.
Rain had been falling heavily throughout the greater portion of this half, and the players were now drenched to the skin.
The Villa returned, and after half and hour’s play Wheldon equalised amid uproarious cheering. The balance of play was in favour of the Champions, but at the interval the score was still one goal each.
Both elevens came out in fresh attire to resume the struggle, the storm having now abated. Wheldon shot past in the opening minute, and from a corner the home goal suffered a narrow escape.
Athersmith raced to the other end and Steve Smith got clear away beating Brandon, but Compton crossed over and cleared in time.
The Villa pressed hard, and Garraty sent in a hot one from which shivered the cross bar, amid cries of “Oh!” from every corner of the ground.
Both goals were in turn endangered, but the balance of play was decidedly in favour of the Champions, who had, however, cruel luck in front of Knowles, Brandon, Crompton, or M’Clure always popping up at the right minute and clearing imminent danger, while from a corner the Rovers’ goal had a very narrow escape.
Twenty minutes from time Jack Devey changed places with Garraty, and the alteration was almost immediately successful, for following a sharp attack the Villa captain gave the Champions the lead.
The Rovers now attacked furiously but were repulsed, and taking the game in hand again, Devey scored a third goal for the homesters.
Result: Aston Villa, three goals; Blackburn Rovers, one.