The latest instalment in one of the oldest derbies in English football takes place on Sunday evening when Albion and Villa meet for the 149th time in the Football League.
The early rivalry was fought most fiercely in the FA Cup, however, with the clubs meeting in three finals in the nineteenth century with Albion victorious in the second of those in 1892. Over the years, however, Villa have been more successful in football’s oldest cup competition winning ten of the thirteen ties between the clubs.
One of the most controversial was in 1957 when the clubs met at the semi-final stage. After a 2-2 draw at Molineux, the replay took place at St Andrew’s and was decided by a solitary goal by Villa’s number nine, Billy Myerscough. The controversy surrounded a challenge by former Baggie, Jimmy Dugdale, on Ronnie Allen that left the Albion striker concussed and unable to continue. As it was the days before substitutes, Vic Buckingham’s team had to play the remainder of the game with ten men and, when Dugdale attempted to pay a visit to his former teammate in hospital after the game, Allen refused to see him in no uncertain terms! Villa went on to win the cup beating Manchester United 2-1 in the final, their last FA Cup win.
Controversy has also surrounded recent meetings including the decision to dismiss Dwight Gayle in the first leg of the play-off semi final in 2019 and the infamous “Hand of Rod” goal by Jay Rodriguez (pictured) six months earlier that earned the Baggies a point.
Albion’s nearest rivals haven’t registered a win at the Hawthorns since September 2008 although five of the subsequent eight meetings have finished all square including probably the worst game of the Tony Pulis era when the Baggies drew 0-0 with one of the worst Villa sides of modern times missing out on the opportunity to record a league double over them for the first time since 1964/65.
Stat Attack
Current Form
| Albion | L | L | W | L | L | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa | L | W | L | L | W | D |
All competitions; most recent game on the right
Last matches
Last meeting
14 May 2019 – League Championship Play-Off Semi Final 2nd Leg
West Brom 1 (Dawson)
Aston Villa 0
Albion’s Record against Aston Villa
| Overall | Home | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | F | A | P | W | D | L | F | A | ||
| League | 148 | 49 | 33 | 66 | 201 | 233 | 74 | 31 | 22 | 21 | 112 | 98 | |
| FA Cup | 16 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 | |
| League Cup | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 6 | |
| Total | 171 | 56 | 37 | 78 | 231 | 266 | 84 | 34 | 23 | 27 | 129 | 113 | |
| Premier League Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Home | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Away | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 9 |
| Total | 20 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 22 | 25 | 21 |
If you cannot see the tables, click here.
