Sunday’s amazing 7-2 victory over Liverpool inevitably brought memories flooding back of famous Villa home victories over the Merseysiders down the years.
A 4-2 win in September 1992 was very special, too – the day Dean Saunders marked his home debut by scoring twice against the club he had just left.
So was the 3-1 in April 1979, towards the end of a season when Liverpool won the title conceding a total of just 16 goals.
And older supporters will recall a thrilling Second Division contest in 1960, when Joe Mercer’s team, four down after an hour, stormed back for a 4-4 draw.
Most of all, though, the unbelievable 7-2 of October 2020 evoked memories of the equally unbelievable 5-1 on a December evening in 1976.
Then, as now, the Reds arrived at Villa Park as champions – they would go on to retain the title – and an away win seemed the most likely outcome, despite Ron Saunders’ men lying fifth in the table.
Then, as now, Liverpool were, by some distance, the best team in the country, maybe in the world. But just like the current side, Villa’s Class of ’76 quickly dispelled any notion that they might try to grab a point, even though their squad included the previously untried Charlie Young and Mickey Buttress.
Andy Gray opened the scoring after nine minutes, netting his 19th goal of the season with a header following a flowing move between Alex Cropley, John Deehan and John Robson.
Two minutes later Deehan moved on to a pass from Dennis Mortimer before firing home through goalkeeper Ray Clemence’s legs and the same player made it 3-0 as the visitors appealed in vain for offside.
Just past the half hour mark, John Gidman’s run set up Brian Little for a superb shot into the far corner, and Liverpool were totally demoralised.
Bob Paisley’s men managed to reduce the arrears through Ray Kennedy, Gray headed home Villa’s fifth from a Mortimer corner.
A 5-1 lead at half-time against a team who would win the European Cup for the first time the following May represented the best 45 minutes of football ever produced by a Villa team – until now.
Dean Smith’s side were one short of the 1976 counterparts at the interval but added three more after the break, compared with a goalless second half all those years ago.
The only disappointment this time around is that the claret-and-blue army could not be there to witness it, whereas 42,851 packed in for the 5-1 game.
If it’s any consolation, at least you will be able to watch it again and again. No footage exists of the 1976 classic.
"A 5-1 lead at half-time against a team who would win the European Cup for the first time the following May represented the best 45 minutes of football ever produced by a Villa team – until now."
