Aston Villa's Brian Little, centre, saw the striker he signed score a hat-trick
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On this day: Review of February
11 February 1995 Aston Villa 7-1 Wimbledon
When Aston Villa hosted Wimbledon during the 1994/95 season the pressure was on Tommy Johnson. The 25-year-old striker had yet to score for Villa after being signed a month earlier from Derby County by new manager Brian Little.
Wimbledon’s 4-3 victory over Villa in the reverse fixture earlier in the season had accounted for Ron Atkinson as manager and when Warren Barton gave the South London team the lead at Villa Park, it looked as if the Dons would inflict more woe. But Villa equalised almost instantly as Alan Reeves put Dean Saunders’ shot into his own net and Johnson took over with a hat-trick in 16 first-half minutes.
Saunders got a couple more after the break, including one from the penalty spot, as well as setting up Dwight Yorke for Villa’s biggest win in the Barclays Premier League to date. Naturally much media focus was on Johnson.
"I’m really pleased for Tommy," Little said. "He has come into a big club and missed a couple of half-chances which have been highlighted. That knocked the stuffing out of him but I know he will keep getting into the positions to score goals."
