CITY 2 ASTON VILLA 0
League Division 1
25th August 1976
attendance 41,007
Scorers Tueart(11), Watson(27)
Ref W Johnson
City Corrigan, Docherty, Donachie, Doyle, Watson, Power, Conway, Kidd, Royle, Hartford, Tueart – sub Barnes(unused)
Villa Burridge, Gidman, Smith, Phillips, Nicholl, Mortimer, Graydon, Little, Gray, Robson, Carrodus – sub Hughes
A GREAT HEADED GOAL FROM DAVE WATSON
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 26TH AUGUST 1976
First blood to Manchester City! But be warned you Blues, Aston Villa are a vastly different proposition on their own ground.
City cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory at Maine Road last night to steal a psychological advantage for next week’s League Cup clash.
However, manager Tony Book cut short the celebrations to say: “The second round tie at Villa Park is another game altogether.”
Success should have been even more emphatic for the Blues who tore Villa apart in a first-half brimful of brilliant football.
Two goals up within half an hour, City then sat back to back-peddle and the stamina-draining heat inevitably taking its toll the game dragged through a drab second half.
Nevertheless the chances were still created by City although a host of superb Dennis Tueart crosses went begging.
However it proved Villa’s vulnerability in the air, a tactical ploy City will not be slow to exploit when they start the defence of the League Cup next Wednesday.
Brian Kidd and Joe Royle both troubled the Birmingham side in the air. Kidd in particular again worked tremendously hard, striving tirelessly to open his City account.
A blistering early drive looked good for a goal but goalkeeper John Burridge made that fifth minute save the first of many in a game which City monopolised for long periods.
However, it was Kidd who paved the way for both goals, setting up Paul Power for a clever left flank run which provided the cross from which Tueart headed the first and then winning the free-kick from which Asa Hartford’s centre was headed in by Dave Watson…
