1977 Football League Cup final

The 1977 Football League Cup Final was played between Aston Villa and Everton and required three games to decide the winner, the only time this has happened in the League Cup.[1] The first match took place at Wembley Stadium on 12 March and the game ended in a goalless draw.[1] The replay on 16 March was only marginally better as the teams again played out a draw, this time at Hillsborough the home of Sheffield Wednesday. The game ended 1–1 with both goals scored by Everton players with Bob Latchford's last-minute equaliser[1] nullifying Roger Kenyon's earlier own-goal.

1977 League Cup Final
Event1976–77 Football League Cup
Date12 March 1977
VenueWembley Stadium, London
RefereeGordon Kew
Attendance100,000
Replay
After extra time
Date16 March 1977
VenueHillsborough Stadium, Sheffield
RefereeGordon Kew
Attendance55,000
Second replay
After extra time
Date13 April 1977
VenueOld Trafford, Manchester
RefereeGordon Kew
Attendance54,748
1976
1978

The second replay took place at Old Trafford on 13 April. The game is probably best remembered for a 40-yard goal from Villa centre-half Chris Nicholl, and in a 2010 poll this was voted in the Top 25 of all-time League Cup moments.[2] Brian Little scored his second of the match in dramatic fashion during the dying seconds of the game to give Villa a 3–2 victory. Mick Lyons and Bob Latchford scored for Everton.

Road to Wembley edit

Aston Villa edit

Villa defeated top-level teams Manchester City and Norwich City in their first two games, before a 4th round victory over Wrexham moved them into the last eight. Here they defeated second level Millwall 2–0. In the first leg of the semi-final they drew 0–0 at Queens Park Rangers, with the second leg also drawn (2–2), thus setting up a replay. Villa won this game 3–0 on 22 February (at Highbury) courtesy of a Brian Little hat-trick.

Everton edit

Conversely Everton's first two victories came against fourth level teams Cambridge United and Stockport County before a 3–0 fourth round victory over First Division Coventry City. In the quarter-finals they enjoyed a 3–0 win at Manchester United, resulting in a semi-final clash with second level Bolton Wanderers. After drawing the home leg, Everton won 1–0 at Burnden Park on 15 February to book their place at Wembley.

Final edit

Match details edit

Aston Villa0–0Everton
Attendance: 100,000
Referee: Gordon Kew (Leeds)
 
 
 
 
 
Aston Villa
 
 
 
 
 
 
Everton
GK 1   John Burridge
DF 2   John Gidman
DF 3   John Robson
DF 4   Leighton Phillips
DF 5   Chris Nicholl (c)
MF 6   Dennis Mortimer
MF 7   John Deehan
MF 8   Brian Little
FW 9   Andy Gray
MF 10   Alex Cropley
FW 11   Frank Carrodus
Manager:
  Ron Saunders
GK 1   David Lawson
DF 2   Dave Jones
DF 3   Terry Darracott
DF 4   Mick Lyons (c)
DF 5   Ken McNaught
MF 6   Andy King
MF 7   Bryan Hamilton
MF 8   Martin Dobson
FW 9   Bob Latchford
FW 10   Duncan McKenzie
MF 11   Ronny Goodlass
Manager:
  Gordon Lee

Replay edit

Match details edit

Aston Villa1–1 (a.e.t.)Everton
Kenyon   79' (o.g.) Report Latchford   88'
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Gordon Kew (Leeds)
 
 
 
 
 
Aston Villa
 
 
 
 
 
 
Everton
GK 1   John Burridge
DF 2   John Gidman
DF 3   John Robson
DF 4   Leighton Phillips
DF 5   Chris Nicholl (c)
MF 6   Dennis Mortimer
MF 7   John Deehan
MF 8   Brian Little
FW 9   Andy Gray
MF 10   Gordon Cowans
FW 11   Frank Carrodus
Manager:
  Ron Saunders
GK 1   David Lawson
DF 2   Mike Bernard
DF 3   Terry Darracott
DF 4   Mick Lyons (c)
DF 5   Ken McNaught
MF 6   Andy King
MF 7   Bryan Hamilton
MF 8   Roger Kenyon
FW 9   Bob Latchford
FW 10   Duncan McKenzie
MF 11   Ronny Goodlass
Substitute:
FW 12   Jim Pearson
Manager:
  Gordon Lee

For the first replay Villa replaced Cropley with Gordon Cowans, whilst Everton replaced Jones with Mike Bernard and Dobson with Roger Kenyon. Additionally Jim Pearson came on as a substitute for Hamilton.[3] |}

Second Replay edit

Match details edit

Aston Villa3–2 (a.e.t.)Everton
Nicholl   80'
Little   81', 119'
Report Latchford   38'
Lyons   83'
Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 54,749
Referee: Gordon Kew (Leeds)
 
 
 
 
 
Aston Villa
 
 
 
 
 
 
Everton
GK 1   John Burridge
DF 2   John Gidman
DF 3   John Robson
DF 4   Leighton Phillips
DF 5   Chris Nicholl (c)
MF 6   Dennis Mortimer
MF 7   Ray Graydon
FW 8   Brian Little
MF 9   John Deehan
MF 10   Alex Cropley
FW 11   Gordon Cowans
Substitute:
DF 12   Gordon Smith
Manager:
  Ron Saunders
GK 1   David Lawson
DF 2   Neil Robinson
DF 3   Terry Darracott
DF 4   Mick Lyons (c)
DF 5   Ken McNaught
MF 6   Andy King
MF 7   Bryan Hamilton
MF 8   Martin Dobson
FW 9   Bob Latchford
FW 10   Jim Pearson
MF 11   Ronny Goodlass
Substitute:
DF 12   Steve Seargeant
Manager:
  Gordon Lee

For the second replay the line-ups were as the original game except for Villa Ray Graydon and Gordon Cowans played instead of Gray and Carrodus, and Gordon Smith came on as a substitute for Gidman. Everton were as the original match except Neil Robinson replaced Jones and Jim Pearson replaced McKenzie, whilst Steve Seargeant came on as a sub for Pearson.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Leaguecup50.com – links to great moments from the League Cup". Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  2. ^ "Tueart goal is best-ever League Cup moment". Football League Official Site. 27 February 2010. Archived from the original on 2 March 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  3. ^ a b League Cup Finals – results and line-ups at rsssf