Aston Villa v Manchester City 1976/77

ASTON VILLA 1 CITY 1

League Division 1

4th May 1977

attendance 36,190

Scorers
City Tueart(55)
Villa Little(70)

ref T Reynolds

City Corrigan, Clements, Donachie, Booth, Watson, Owen, Barnes, Royle, Kidd, Tueart, Keegan – sub Conway(45)

Villa Burridge, Smith, Robson, Phillips, Nicholl, Mortimer, Deehan, Little, Gray, Cropley, Cowans

FROM THE PRESS BOX

DAVE HORRIDGE WRITING IN THE DAILY MIRROR 5TH MAY 1977
Brian Little pushed the League championship trophy a little nearer Anfield last night with a goal that robbed Manchester City of a point they couldn’t afford to lose.
A tremendous rally by Villa. produced Little’s 24th goal of the season. and a deserved draw.
Villa could have been two up in the opening minutes when Andy Gray headed wide from three yards, then de?ected a Little shot and forced Joe Corrigan to a good save.
Some of City’s tackling had the crowd screamlng with anger although John Deehan was the ?rst to go in referee Tom Reynolds‘ book for a tackle on Willie Donachle.
Dennis Tueart made an electrifying burst through Villa’s defence before sendlng a ferociouls 20 yard drive inches over the bar and Peter Barnes made a mess of Brian Kidd’s pass when he scooped thee ball hopelessly high and wide.
But the most amazing misses were at the other end in a spell of frantic Villa pressure. Deehan six yards out., completely missed Little’s low centre. Then Little miscued Gray’s pass so badly that his attempted
shot became a clearance.
As the tackling became fiercer, Ken Clements was booked for the second time in ?ve days aftter I bringing down
Little.
Tommg Booth had to go to the touchline for treatment, but with City down to ten men, they took the lead in the 55th minute. Barnes’ corner-kick was directed across goal by Dave Watson and Tueart headed the ball into the roof of the net.
In the 69th minute Villa struck back through Little after a Robson drive had come back of the goal angle.