Wikipedia

1978–79 Aston Villa F.C. season

The 1978–79 English football season was Aston Villa's 80th season in the Football League and their fourth consecutive season in the top division. Manager, Ron Saunders had signed a six-year contract in the pre-season.[1]

Aston Villa
1978–79 season
ChairmanHarry Kartz
ManagerRon Saunders
StadiumVilla Park
First Division8th
FA CupThird round
League CupFourth round
Second City Derby
35--28--24

There were debut appearances for Gary Williams (324), Colin J Gibson (185), Gary Shaw (165), Kenny Swain (148), Brendan Ormsby (117),[2] Gary Shelton (24), Lee Jenkins (3), Joe Ward (3) and Willie Young.[3]

19 Aug 1978: The First Division season begins with a 1–0 home victory over Wolves.[4] Villa won both games in the Second City derby.[5]

League table

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
6 Ipswich Town 42 20 9 13 63 49 +14 49 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
7 Arsenal 42 17 14 11 61 48 +13 48 Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round[a]
8 Aston Villa 42 15 16 11 59 49 +10 46
9 Manchester United 42 15 15 12 60 63 −3 45
10 Coventry City 42 14 16 12 58 68 −10 44
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
  1. ↑ Arsenal qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round as the 1978–79 FA Cup winners.

Matches

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DateOpponentVenueResultNotesScorers
19 Aug 1978Wolvesh1–0—Andy Gray 60' [6]
23 Aug 1978Tottenham Hotspura4–1—Allan Evans 35', John Gregory 49', Brian Little 80', Gary Shelton 86'
26 Aug 1978Bristol Citya0–1——
2 Sep 1978Southamptonh1–1—Andy Gray 23' [7]
9 Sep 1978Ipswich Towna2–0—John Gregory 17', Andy Gray 90' (pen) [8]
16 Sep 1978Evertonh1–1—Tommy Craig 42' [9]
23 Sep 1978Queens Park Rangersa0–1—— [10]
30 Sep 1978Nottingham Foresth1–2—Tommy Craig 20' (pen) [11]
7 Oct 1978Arsenala1–1—John Gregory 84'
14 Oct 1978Manchester Unitedh2–2—John Gregory 32', 45'
21 Oct 1978Birmingham Citya1–0—Andy Gray 8'
27 Oct 1978Middlesbroughh0–2——
4 Nov 1978Manchester Cityh1–1—John Deehan 62'
11 Nov 1978Wolvesa4–0—Gary Shelton 39', Ken McNaught 43', John Deehan 81', Dennis Mortimer 85'
18 Nov 1978Bristol Cityh2–0—John Deehan 59', Gordon Cowans 70'
21 Nov 1978Southamptona0–2——
25 Nov 1978West Bromwich Albiona1–1—Allan Evans 64'
9 Dec 1978Chelseaa1–0—Allan Evans 15'
16 Dec 1978Norwich Cityh1–1—Own Goal 79'
23 Dec 1978Derby Countya0–0——
26 Dec 1978Leeds Unitedh2–2—John Gregory 21', 26'
31 Jan 1979Evertona1–1—Gary Shelton 49'
24 Feb 1979Manchester Uniteda1–1—Kenny Swain 58'
3 Mar 1979Birmingham Cityh1–0—Gordon Cowans 80'
7 Mar 1979Bolton Wanderersh3–0—Andy Gray 17', Kenny Swain 30', Own Goal 45'
10 Mar 1979Middlesbrougha0–2——
20 Mar 1979Queens Park Rangersh3–1—Allan Evans 34', John Gidman 72' (pen), Dennis Mortimer 89'
24 Mar 1979Tottenham Hotspurh2–3—John Gidman 39' (pen), Andy Gray 44'
28 Mar 1979Coventry Cityh1–1—Allan Evans 49'
4 Apr 1979Nottingham Foresta0–4——
7 Apr 1979Coventry Citya1–1—John Deehan 77'
11 Apr 1979Derby Countyh3–3—Gordon Cowans 26', 55', John Gidman 51' (pen)
14 Apr 1979Leeds Uniteda0–1——
16 Apr 1979Liverpoolh3–1—Allan Evans 33', Own Goal 41', John Deehan 84'
21 Apr 1979Norwich Citya2–1—Gary Shelton 13', Alex Cropley 72'
25 Apr 1979Arsenalh5–1—Gary Shelton 49', 51', 85' (pen), John Deehan 69', 73'
28 Apr 1979Chelseah2–1—Own Goal 68', Kenny Swain 82'
2 May 1979Ipswich Townh2–2—Kenny Swain 8', John Deehan 13'
5 May 1979Bolton Wanderersa0–0——
8 May 1979Liverpoola0–3Liverpool beat Aston Villa 3–0 at Anfield to clinch the First Division title.[12]—
11 May 1979West Bromwich Albionh0–1——
15 May 1979Manchester Citya3–2—Alex Cropley 50', Dennis Mortimer 72', John Deehan 75' [6]

Source: avfchistory.co.uk

FA Cup

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Teams from the Football League First and Second Division entered in the Third round. The third round of games in the FA Cup were intended to be played on 6 January 1979, but only four games were actually played on this date. Twenty more ties were played midweek over 8–10 January with a few more taking place on 15–16 and one on 18 January. Replays were intended for 9–10 January but again took place at various times. One tie, between Wrexham and Stockport County, suffered six postponements before finally being played on 1 February, by which time Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday had played five times, the tie needing a fourth replay before being settled. Maidstone United and Altrincham were the last non-league clubs left in the competition.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date
6Nottingham Forest2–0Aston Villa10 January 1979

League Cup

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Second round

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Home team Score Away team Date
Aston Villa (1)1–0Sheffield Wednesday (3)30 August 1978

Third round

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Home team Score Away team Date
Aston Villa1–1Crystal Palace4 October 1978

Replay

Home team Score Away team Date
Crystal Palace0–0[13]Aston Villa10 October 1978

2nd Replay

Home team Score Away team Date
Aston Villa3–0Crystal Palace16 October 1978

Fourth round

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Home team Score Away team Date
Aston Villa0–2Luton Town8 November 1978

Squad

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References

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