The 1976–77 English football season was Aston Villa's 78th season in the Football League and their second consecutive season in the top division.
Andy Gray and was joint winner of England's golden boot with Arsenal's Malcolm Macdonald in 1976–77. Gray's 29 goals helped Villa to a fourth-place finish and victory in the League Cup, and earned him the PFA Young Player of the Year and PFA Players' Player of the Year awards.
There were debut appearances for Gordon Smith (79), Alex Cropley (67), Ivor Linton (27), Charlie Young (11), Mick Buttress (3), and David T. Hughes (4). Villa lost both games in the Second City derby.
League
Matches Aston Villa's score comes first WinDrawLoss
Source: avfchistory.co.uk
League Cup
Second round + Number of teams per tier entering this round First Division Second Division Third Division Fourth Division Total
Home teamScoreAway teamDate Aston Villa (1) 3–0 Manchester City (1) 1 September 1976
Third round + Number of teams per tier entering this round First Division Second Division Third Division Fourth Division Total
Home teamScoreAway teamDate Aston Villa (1) 2–1 Norwich City (1) 21 September 1976
Fourth round + Number of teams per tier entering this round First Division Second Division Third Division Fourth Division Total
Home teamScoreAway teamDate Aston Villa (1) 5–1 Wrexham (3) 27 October 1976
Fifth Round + Number of teams per tier entering this round First Division Second Division Third Division Fourth Division Total
Home teamScoreAway teamDate Aston Villa (1) 2–0 Millwall (2) 1 December 1976
Semi-finals + Number of teams per tier entering this round First Division Second Division Third Division Fourth Division Total
First leg Home teamScoreAway teamDate Queens Park Rangers (1) 0–0 Aston Villa (1) 1 February 1977
Second leg Home teamScoreAway teamDateAgg Aston Villa (1) 2–2After Extra Time Queens Park Rangers (1) 16 February 1977 2–2
Replay Home teamScoreAway teamDateVenue Queens Park Rangers (1) 0–3 Aston Villa (1) 22 February 1977 Highbury
Final 12 Mar 1977: The League Cup final ends in a 0–0 draw between Aston Villa and Everton at Wembley.
16 Mar 1977: The Football League Cup final replay at Hillsborough ends in a 1–1 draw.
13 Apr 1977: The Football League Cup final is decided at the third attempt when Aston Villa beat Everton 3–2 in the second replay at Old Trafford. A last minute goal from Brian Little sends the trophy to Villa Park and prevents the possibility of a first-ever major English Cup Final penalty shoot-out.
FA Cup
Third round Teams from the Football League First and Second Division entered in this round. The third round of games in the FA Cup were played on 8 January 1977.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate6Leicester City0–1Aston Villa8 January 1977
Fourth round The fourth round of games were played on 29 January 1977. Four games required a replay, played midweek on 1–2 February. Northwich Victoria was the last non-league club left in the competition.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate5Aston Villa3–0West Ham United29 January 1977
Fifth round The fifth set of games took place on 26 February 1977. Holders Southampton were eliminated by Manchester United in a rematch of the previous season's final.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate3Aston Villa3–0Port Vale26 February 1977
Sixth round The sixth round of FA Cup games were played on 19 March 1977. There were no replays.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate4Manchester United2–1Aston Villa19 March 1977
Squad All Aston Villa players: 1977
References