CITY 0 ASTON VILLA 2
League Division 1
22nd October 1989
Attendance 23,354
Scorers Daley(5), Olney(61)
Ref Stephen Lodge
City Dibble, Fleming, Gayle, Redmond, Hinchcliffe, White, Bishop, I Brightwell, Lake, Morley, Oldfield – Subs Allen(45), Fashanu(69)
Villa Spink, Price, Gage, Blake, Mountfield, Nielsen, Daley, Platt, Olney, Cowans, Gray – Subs Birch(45), Ormondroyd(unused)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
MATCH REPORT FROM THE NOTTINGHAM EVENING POST 23RD OCTOBER 1989
The cameras returned, ‘live’ to football, yesterday, and left former Nottingham players wishing they’d stayed away from Maine Road.
Aston Villa’s ex Forest winger Stuart Gray was sent off three minutes into the second half, along with Manchester City’s Trevor Morley (who happens to be the son of Another eX-red wing half Bill).
As if that wasn’t enough, 18 year old Mark Blake, who played for England Boys while he was at school in Nottingham, was substituted by Villa at a half time; Gary Fleming seemed unusually hesitant at right back for City; and not even a substitute’s appearance by Justin Fashanu, making his First Division One appearance since he injured a knee playing for Notts County six years ago, could save City’s kids from a 2-0 defeat.
But the big talking-point was the double sending off. There had never been one red card previously in a match shown live on television.
The players received their marching orders from referee Stephen Lodge after Morley elbowed Gray in the mouth and the Villa captain retaliated by pushing him over. Villa manager Graham Taylor said: “I did not see the incident, but I’m told by Gray that Morley elbowed him in the mouth. He pushed Morley over and the referee saw it as a sending off offence. Grey is 29 years old and has never been suspended in his career. He’s a very honest lad and he’s very upset.”
Although Gray, who suffered a gashed lip faces suspension, Taylor added that the club will not be taking any disciplinary action against him.
City manager Mel Machin said “Gray retaliated and got them both sent off. He lost his head. Morley would just have had his name taken.
Three other players, Villa’s David Platt and Chris Price plus City’s Andy Hinchcliffe, were booked in a game littered with niggling fouls.
From which you will gather that this was not necessarily representative of the flowing football that has preceded the cameras’ belated appearance this season.
City’s youngsters seemed to freeze in front of their wider audience. Villa took a fourth minute lead when Tony Daly headed home a Kevin Gage cross; and Ian Olney ensured them of their third successive win, stabbing the ball home from close range in the 61st minute.
