Villa play their eighth game in 23 days as a second string side, with even some third string in there are beaten by Arsenal to remain fifth in the table, seven points behind leaders Liverpool but now with only two games in hand. 

Ron Saunders' Villa lose for the first time in five as to quote a contemporary match report "This was the night the season caught up the Aston Villa. With a third of their first team squad injured and with four tired or untested teenagers in their places ...". 

Villa make it nineteen wins, five draws and ten defeats in thirty four division one games this season. As a result Villa now have four games in hand over Ipswich Town who did not play and are now down to six points ahead but both Manchester City and Liverpool remain in strong positions in the four way fight for the title. 

Meanwhile midfielder David Hughes made his fifth and final appearance for Villa aged 19 before moving on to Lincoln City in April 1978.