1957 FA Cup Final: Aston Villa vs Man Utd

Aston Villa 2 - 1 Man Utd

• Aston Villa
  • McParland 68'
  • McParland 73'
• Man Utd
  • Taylor 83'

Wembley - Saturday 4th May

Attendance: 100,000

Match Referee: F Coultas

Team Line-ups:

There can be no doubt that the injury suffered by United's goalkeeper Wood in an eighth minute collision with McParland materially affected this Final. It must remain a matter of opinion whether it affected the result.

Although on the defensive, the depleted United side never let their opponents dominate the game. Edwards was tough and uncompromising at centre‑half, and Byrne proceeded to play a real captain's game at left‑back. Villa, in fact, were reduced to long‑range shots which Blanchflower, stand‑in goalkeeper for Wood, fielded without too much trouble.

United still held the upper hand as the second half began, and when Wood returned to play on the right wing, their chances seemed even brighter.

But it was not to be. Smith slipped a pass to Dixon in the sixty‑eighth minute, the Villa captain's centre drifted into the penalty‑area, and McParland raced in to head a great goal. Five minutes later the irrepressible McParland scored again, making no mistake after Dixon's shot had crashed against the bar and bounced back straight to his feet.

United, League champions and unquestionably the season's outstanding team, were more dangerous when two goals down than at any other time in the match. The only reward for their efforts came in the eighty‑third minute when Taylor headed over Sims and into the net from Edwards' corner. It was small consolation.

Burnley v ASTON VILLA 1‑ 1, 0‑2; WBA vArsenal 2‑2,2‑1, Bournemouth & Bos Ath v MAN UTD 1‑2, Birmingham C v Nott'm Forest 0‑0, 1 ‑0

ASTON VILLA v Bristol C 2‑1; Huddersfield T v Burnley 1‑2; PNE v Arsenal 3‑3,1‑2; Blackpool v WBA 0‑0, 1‑2; MAN UTD v Everton 1‑0, Bournemouth & Bos Ath v Spurs 3‑1, Millwall v Birmingham C 1‑4, Barnsley v Nott'm Forest 1‑2

Middlesbro v ASTON VILLA 2‑3; Bristol C v Rhyl 3‑0; Burnley v New Brighton 9‑0; Huddersfield T v Peterborough Utd 3‑ 1; Newport Co v Arsenal 0‑2; Bristol R v PNE 1‑4; Blackpool v Fulham 6‑2; WBA v Sunderland 4‑2; Wrexham v MAN UTD 0‑5; Everton v W. Ham 2‑1; Wolves v Bournemouth& BosAth 0‑1 Spurs v Chelsea 4‑0 Southend Utd v Birmingham C 1‑6; Millwall v Newcastle Utd 2‑1, Cardiff d v Barnsley 0‑1; Portsmouth v Nott'm Forest 1‑3

Luton T v ASTON VILLA 2‑2,0‑2; Middlesbro v Charlton Ath 1‑1, 3‑2; Bristol C v Rotherham Utd 4‑1; Notts Co v Rhyl 1‑3; Burnley v Chesterfield 7‑0; New Brighton v Torquay Utd 2‑1; Huddersfield T v Sheff Utd 0‑0, 1‑1, 2‑1; Peterborough Utd v Lincoln C 2‑2, 5‑4; Arsenal v Stoke C 4‑2; Newport Co v Southampton 3‑3, 1 ‑0; PNE v Sheff Wed 0‑0, 2‑2, 5‑1; Hull C v Bristol R 3‑4; Bolton W v Blackpool 2‑3; Ipswich T v Fulham 2‑3; Sunderland v QPR 4‑0; Doneaster R v WBA 1‑1, 0‑2; Hartlepools Utd v MAN UTD 3‑4; Wrexham v Reading 1‑1, 2‑1; Everton v Blackburn R 1 ‑0; W. Ham v GrimsbyT 5‑3, Bournemouth & Bos Ath v Accrington S 2‑0; Wolves v Swansea T 5‑3; Spurs v Leicester C 2‑0; Leyton Orient v Chelsea 0‑2; Carlisle Utd v Birmingham C 3‑3, 0‑4, Southend Utd v Liverpool 2‑1; Millwall v Crystal Palace 2‑0; Newcastle Utd v Man C 1‑1, 5‑4, Barnsley v Port Vale 3‑3, 1‑0; Leeds Utd v Cardiff City 1‑2; Bury v Portsmouth 1‑3; Nott'm Forest v Goole T 6‑0