ASTON VILLA 1 CITY 1

League Division 1

4th November 1978

attendance 32,724

scorers
City Owen(68 pen)
Aston Villa Deehan(62)

ref Mr B Stevens

City Corrigan, Clements, Donachie, Viloen, Booth, P Futcher, Channon, Owen, Kidd, Hartfoed, Palmer – sub R Futcher(unused)

Villa Rimmer, Gidman, Willizms, Phillips, McNaught, Mortimer, Craig, Little, Gray, Deehan, Gregory – sub Evans(77)

FROM THE PRESS BOX

OWEN IS CITY PENALTY ACE

PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 4TH NOVEMBER 1978
Manchester City were in command for long periods at Villa Park today.
But the breaks were few and far between as the Blues battled for League points after a demanding midweek European mission.
Brian Kidd had the ball in the net shortly before half time but it was disallowed for an earlier Mike Channon foul on Jimmy Rimmer.
City looked sound and compact all round as they constantly carried the fight to Villa with midfield dynamos Asa Hartford and Gary Owen particularly impressive.
Hartford was again skipper in the absence of the injured Watson as the Blues banked on the side that drew at home with West Brom last week.
And they quickly made progress with Channon on flank runs, the second of which earned City a free kick. Hartford floated his cross to the far post where Owen won a left wing corner.
Villa’s first threat came when Hartford drove a back-pass too high for Corrigan to reach and from Mortimer’s corner to the near post Gray headed wide.
… Clements and Booth cleared first time as Villa turned on the pressure and Corrigan fisted out a Gray back header.
… City were pushing the ball about well, but the breaks were not coming in front of goal. Even Clements moved up to try his luck, and his powerful 20 yarder was safely held by Rimmer.
… There were fierce Villa protests for a penalty in the 40th minute when Paul Futcher tackled Little right on the spot, but referee Stevens was well up with play to turn them all aside.
Half-time: Aston Villa 0 Manchester City 0
… The 49th minute almost proved fatal for City. Viljoen was penalised for fouling Deehan a stride outside the penalty area on the left hand side. Craig floated the ball into the middle and McNaught raced into space to glance a neat header inches wide.
… In the 62nd minute, as Villa began to step up their game, the Blues went behind.
Little drove the ball forward and Deehan headed goalwards. Corrigan had left his line and was stranded in no-mans land as the ball went over his head and into the net to break the deadlock.
… There was more drama in the 68th minute when Channon was brought down by McNaught and the referee immediately awarded a penalty, Owen successfully tucked away the spot kick.
… In the 86th minute Channon had the ball in the net again, but was penalised for a foul on Williams…