It's 1972 and Villa are in the Third Division of The Football League. Dark times? Don't you believe it. The Villa support is in full force and it's no better illustrated than when the visit of Bournemouth sees Villa Park bulging at the seams.
We may have dropped a couple of divisions but our support is as strong as anyone's and stronger than most.
This Division Three clash has attracted more fans than top flight games between Everton and Leeds and Manchester United v Newcastle.
The official attendance will be confirmed as 48,110 and this doesn't include the turnstile jumpers and those that piled in during the second half. It creates the sort of atmosphere only possible in a heaving stadium. Villa fans are buzzing this season and 25 points out of 28 so far shows just how well the players are responding to electric support, both home and away.
Even by 1972 standards, this is not going to be a footballing classic. The charge for promotion makes this a tense afternoon indeed and the notoriously potato field like Villa Park is certainly on the heavy side.
Villa are still smarting fron the nightmare at Dean Court when Boyer and MacDougall had created havoc in the defence. This time we go man for man. Maybe nor the best idea.
Twenty seven minutes gone, Aitken is dragged way of position in pursuit of Boyer. Scoot hurtles down the "wrong wing" and his cross finds the head of the diving MacDougall.
One - nil Bournemouth.
The crowd loses no enthusiasm and lifts the team and we get to half time without conceding again Clearly a rethink is needed.
Bournemouth sense blood though and early doors in the second half, opportunity knocks.They get a corner, but suddenly the ground ERUPTS with chants of "Villa, Villa". From then on, we never look back.
Suddenly, with a more than vociferous stadium right behind them, Villa rally and dominate. Ray Graydon and the oft maligned Geoff Vowden terrorise the Bournemouth defence.
Vowden gets his just desserts for a thrilling second half showing, heading Villa level on 72 minutes.
However, one Andy Lockhead's winner is an absolute pearler. Along high ball into the box, Andy heads it then slots home with his right foot in front of adoring and delighted Holte End.
2-1 to the Villa and it's all over.
Bring on Pele.
Even by 1972 standards, this is not going to be a footballing classic. The charge for promotion makes this a tense afternoon indeed and the notoriously potato field like Villa Park is certainly on the heavy side.
Villa are still smarting fron the nightmare at Dean Court when Boyer and MacDougall had created havoc in the defence. This time we go man for man. Maybe nor the best idea.
Twenty seven minutes gone, Aitken is dragged way of position in pursuit of Boyer. Scoot hurtles down the "wrong wing" and his cross finds the head of the diving MacDougall.
One - nil Bournemouth.
The crowd loses no enthusiasm and lifts the team and we get to half time without conceding again Clearly a rethink is needed.
Bournemouth sense blood though and early doors in the second half, opportunity knocks.They get a corner, but suddenly the ground ERUPTS with chants of "Villa, Villa". From then on, we never look back.
Suddenly, with a more than vociferous stadium right behind them, Villa rally and dominate. Ray Graydon and the oft maligned Geoff Vowden terrorise the Bournemouth defence.
However, one Andy Lockhead's winner is an absolute pearler. Along high ball into the box, Andy heads it then slots home with his right foot in front of adoring and delighted Holte End.
2-1 to the Villa and it's all over.
Bring on Pele.
.
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