View from our legends | Villa
We've a couple of 1980s legends up to preview Villa - Graham Roberts, twice FA Cup winner, captain on the night of our UEFA Cup triumph in 1984 and Clive Allen, whose club record of 49 goals in 1986/87 has yet to be touched.
An inspired signing by Keith Burkinshaw, 'Robbo' joined us from non-league Weymouth in 1979 and within two years, helped us lift the FA Cup at Wembley. We retained the trophy in 1982 and Robbo was fouled for the winning penalty converted by Glenn Hoddle in the replay against QPR.
Robbo's crowning moment arrived in 1984 when, with Steve Perryman suspended, he led the team out for the second leg of the UEFA Cup Final against Anderlecht at the Lane. The first leg finished 1-1 and, trailing 1-0, Robbo equalised, then scored the first penalty as we won the dramatic shoot-out to lift the trophy.
Clive joined us in 1984 and overcame serious injury to put together his incredible 49-goal season in 1986/87. In doing so, he went past previous club records held by Jimmy Greaves (42, 44 including two in the Charity Shield) and Martin Chivers (42). Only Harry Kane (41 in 2017/18) has come close since.
Now a popular pundit in the media, Clive also provides analysis and co-commentary on matchdays for SPURSPLAY.
Clive Allen
Scored a hat-trick vs Villa on opening day of 1986/87
"Every game is difficult in the Premier League, especially at the start of the season when so many teams are in transition, so many teams have got new managers, so there's new ideas coming into their clubs. Unai Emery has lost so many of these what you would have called frontliners from last season, there's a few youngsters, a couple of new players come in and I see it as a big opportunity for us. We're coming off the back of the Liverpool result, but I thought we started well at Anfield, created chances, and for Everton last weekend. We're back at home and we have to do that again. It's an obvious thing to say, but we need to get ourselves in front. Look at the reaction to Conor Gallagher's goal for 2-1 at Anfield, it looked like we could level it up before Szoboszlai's unbelievable third goal. So, the key is to start quickly, get on the front foot again and it goes without saying, when the chances come along, we have to be ruthless."
Graham Roberts
FA Cup winner 1981, 1982; UEFA Cup winner 1984
"Villa have obviously had their issues, I thought when we played them at the end of last season, we deserved to win at Villa Park. We were the better team that day. Having watched us at Anfield the other night, I thought we were brilliant in the first half. I just think if Bergvall scores early for 1-0, Kudus had a chance, 2-0 up and it could have been game over. We had our moments and I think we're getting there, gradually. Villa will be always be a tough test though. What's key? I think the midfield battle, Tonali, if he comes back in (Roberto De Zerbi said Sandro was available after missing Anfield), Bentancur, Mateus Fernandes is starting to settle, I like Bergvall. If we can win that battle, get players forward, get the ball wide and create chances, for me, that's key."
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