Villa suffer defeat to Everton as they drop back to twelfth with one game to play on the day that they officially relinquish the title to new champions Liverpool.

Villa lose for the third time in five League games to make it eight Division One wins, five draws and five defeats under Tony Barton.

In total Barton had now led Villa for twenty three games, delivering ten wins, seven draws and six defeats since taking over from Ron Saunders whose record over 35 games in 1981-82 had been fifteen wins, eight draws and twelve losses. 

Villa’s unsuccessful title defence now consisted of fourteen wins, twelve draws and fifteen defeats after 41 games.

Gordon Cowans contributes his 75th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 264th appearance (249 Starts) to make it W120 D69 L75, 37 Goals and 38 Assists at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.52 games he has played so far in his Villa career.