ASTON VILLA V. DERBY COUNTY. Played at Perry Barr. Derby winning the toss. Groves kicked off for the Villa. After a few minutes the Villa made a run uphill, and scored. The visitors took the ball down, but the home defence was too smart, and Woolley again nearly scored. Several fouls were now made on both sides. Notwithstanding the strong wind against them, the Villa were having the best of the play. Derby only occasionally becoming dangerous. The game slowed down very much, little being done by either. Half-time:—Villa, one goal: Derby, none. On changing ends, the Villa were soon swarming down Robinson’s citadel, that player making some marvellous saves. The visitors were forced to give a corner, and Cowan kicking in, and with Hodgetts on the top of Robinson. a goal seemed certain, but the ball hit the crossbar, the Villa having very hard lines in not scoring. Devey, Hodgetts, and Woolley shooting. The visitors obtained short respite, and again Woolley tried, just missing the posts. W. Devey failed to take advantage of an easy chance, and Derby went away, Cowan and Reynolds driving them back. The visitors now took up the play, causing the home team considerable anxiety, and very nearly scoring on several occasions. Both the Goodalls played a superb game. John Goodall equalising. Both teams now used all their energy to obtain the winning point, but the result was a draw of one goal each. --- *The Birmingham Daily Post* Tuesday 03 October 1893 NOTES ON SPORT. The conduct and duty of spectators at football matches have already been commented upon in these notes, and, unfortunately, Saturday’s matches have furnished two incidents which render further reference to the question imperative. To come nearer home, we are glad to be able to say that the elaborate precautions taken by the Villa committee to ensure the protection of the opposing players and the referee have hitherto been unnecessary, and it is to be hoped they will always be so. The behaviour of the Villa spectators has so far been excellent, and good play on the part of the visitors has been applauded as heartily as it could be. On Saturday, for instance, when Derby County scored the goal that put them level with the Villa a loud cheer went up from the crowd, and it could scarcely hare been greater had the success been the Villa’s. We trust this will always be the case, and go farther and say that when an unjust decision is given by a referee it will be received in silence. Let Birmingham spectators show that they at least can appreciate the trying and arduous position of the referee, without whom football could not be played. The visit of the Queen’s Park was not the success financially that it was hoped to be, but as an exhibition of football the match will always be remembered by those who were fortunate enough to see it. The spirit in which the game was contested was most sportsmanlike, for there were none of those dirty little tricks observable to which players unfortunately sometimes descend. As was truly observed by Smellie, the visitors’ captain, at the dinner which followed the match, whilst there are such games football will never be without supporters. The visitors were worthy successors to that great eleven that visited Perry Barr about thirteen years ago, when Archie Hunter, Andy Hunter, Law, and Eli Davis were famous members of the Aston Villa. The forwards combined beautifully, the half-backs played in a manner which the Villa men would do well to imitate, whilst the defence was grand. Every man showed complete reliance upon his neighbour, and the character of the play forcibly reminded one of the Preston North End of five or six years ago. The Villa players are to be congratulated on drawing with such a grand eleven, especially when one considers that John Devey and Athersmith were not playing. A match between the full strength of both teams on a dry day would be worth going miles to witness. It is to be hoped that the Queens Park will be more frequently seen at Perry Barr than of late years. The Villa on Saturday gave a very poor display at Perry Barr, and will have to show a great improvement at Sheffield today or they will most assuredly be beaten by the United. The fault lay with the forwards, who did not show that fine combination which is characteristic of their play. Hodgetts and Woolley were not in their usual form, whilst W. Devey and his brother were not an ideal wing, the former being manifestly out of his position on the extreme right. W. Groves in the centre played hard and at times passed beautifully, but the opportunities that he gave his comrades were not utilised. The Villa half-backs did fairly well, whilst Welford distinguished himself at back, and Baird also kicked and tackled excellently. The County did not display any great brilliance, but there was more cohesion about them than there was about the Villa, and this enabled them to have quite as much of the play. The two Goodalls were the most prominent members in the attack, whilst Robinson deserves praise for his clever goalkeeping. The game, however, was by no means a great one, and contrasted very unfavourably with the match played on Thursday.