BORO GET JOB DONE FOR VILLA
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Arsenal
Aston Villa
Young 12
McDermott 45
Division 1, May 2, 1981 Attendance at Highbury: 57,472
MATT BOZEAT
FOOTBALL legend Pele was gracing Highbury – but nobody really cared.
That was because Arsenal had Europe in their sights and Villa were possibly 90 minutes away from being crowned champions.
Villa needed a point to lift the trophy for the first time since 1910 and also knew they would be guaranteed to finish top if Ipswich lost at Middlesbrough.
Under Terry Neill, Arsenal had been unbeaten at Highbury in the league all season and that left them one victory away from qualifying for the UEFA Cup.
Villa fans filled the Clock End on a sunny afternoon, many of them clutching transistor radios as they kept track of the match at Boro.
They were stunned after 12 minutes when Willie Young put Arsenal ahead right in front of them after Villa had failed to clear Kenny Sansom’s free-kick.
Arsenal doubled their lead just before the break – only seconds after Villa had a corner.
The ball was thumped clear to Brian McDermott, who was able to shrug off Kenny Swain and strike an angled right-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area that rolled through Colin Gibson’s legs, dribbling out of keeper Jimmy Rimmer’s reach and just inside the post.
Ipswich led 1-0 at Ayresome Park at the break, adding to the tension at the Clock End.
And there were bizarre scenes when, during a quiet passage of play, Villa fans celebrated after hearing Boro had equalised.
That was repeated after Villa striker Peter Withe took aim with a chip that Pat Jennings comfortably held under the crossbar – and the thousands of Villa fans behind the goal erupted in joy.
The news was that Ipswich were
2-1 behind and if the scoreline remained that way Villa would be champions, regardless of what happened at Highbury.
Arsenal won in the end – and Villa, under manager Ron Saunders (right), were crowned the new top-flight kings.