In a disappointing match at Villa Park, neither side reached a particularly high standard of play. True, England were disorganised when they were reduced to ten men after 25 minutes when Laurie Scott suffered a ligament injury in his right knee, but they never really got into their usual rhythm.

After the injury, Stan Mortensen went back to right-half and Tim Ward replaced Scott at full-back. It seemed a wrong decision by England as they badly missed Mortensen's qualities up front. Wales, meanwhile, never really impressed. They showed plenty of typical Welsh fervour but their limitations were there for all to see. The fact that England won with ten men says it all.

The vital goal came after 39 minutes. Jackie Milburn, lively throughout, made a strong run down the middle and, as he was desperately challenged by the Welsh defenders, the ball ran loose to Tom Finney and the winger did the rest, giving Hughes no chance. Before the goal, Ford missed two excellent chances for Wales; had he taken one of them, it might have been a different story.

In the second half, Wales' attacks usually petered out on the edge of the England penalty area, although they had a good deal of the game. England were relying on Milburn, Matthews and Finney to breakaway and relieve the pressure. Billy Wright and Neil Franklin had storming games in the heart of the England defence and comfortably held a poor Welsh attack.

Near the end, England fans had their hearts in their mouths as Frank Swift missed two crosses in quick succession but the luck went the way of England and they held on to their lead.
 

A crowd of 68,750 gathered at Villa Park for this mid-week Home International match. Laurie Scott limped off with a damaged knee ligament in the twenty-fifth minute and the ten men of England became disorganised as Tim Ward switched to right-back and Stan Mortensen to right-half. Tom Finney scored the only goal of a drab game on the hour after a typical sprint-speed run from Jackie Milburn had ripped open the Welsh defence. BBC television cameras were at the match and a commentator called Kenneth Wolstenholme made his debut at the microphone. Some people thought it was all beginning. It was now!
 

The match against Wales took place at Villa Park on November 10th. Although England were disorganised by an injury to Scott after 25 minutes play, and had to make do with ten men for the rest of the match, they won by the narrow margin of 1-0, in the circumstances a creditable achievement. There were three changes in the team from the one which beat Ireland, Aston returning as left-back, Ward (Derby County) taking Cockburn's place and Shackleton returning to the forward line.
At the start, Wales took the offensive, but missed two fine chances of scoring within the first quarter of an hour. Then, in the 39th minute, came England's turn, and the deciding goal of the match. A free-kick by Matthews on the right went to Milburn and then to Finney who slammed it into the net.
At the beginning of the second half the fast pace was maintained. Milburn was slightly hurt in the face and for five minutes England held Wales in check with only nine men. Towards the end of the match England went increasingly over to the defensive ad Swift had some anxious moments in goal, but there was no further score.
 

"The international match between England and Wales will be played at Villa Park on 10 November. Giving this news at the annual general meeting of Aston Villa F.C. in Birmingham last night, Mr. F. H. Normansell, chairman of the club, said: 'The F.A. gave us a semi-final last season, and we consider it a great compliment to the club for these important matches to be played at Villa Park.'" - Birmingham Gazette, Saturday, 3 July 1948.

"One of the keenest football enthusiasts in the Midlands, Coun. W. O. J. Urry, of Worcester, collapsed and died while watching yesterday's international match between England and Wales at Villa Park, Birmingham. Aged 64, he was a director of Heenan and Froude, Shrub Hill, Worcestershire, and four subsidiary companies." - Birmingham Gazette, Thursday, 11 November 1948.

"Most of the 10,000 men who did not turn up for work at Birmingham factories yesterday are believed to have watched the England v. Wales international match at Villa Park. At one of the city's largest factories, it is understood, dismissal notices are under consideration in the case of several workers who absented themselves to go to the match." - Birmingham Gazette, Thursday, 11 November 1948.
 
ENGLISH-WELSH STARS UNFIT AFTER INJURIES AT VILLA PARK
"At least four players—possibly more—who took part in the England-Wales international match at Villa Park on Wednesday have been declared unfit for tomorrow's League games.
They are Scott (Arsenal), Shackleton (Sunderland), Ford (Aston Villa) and Swift (Manchester City).
Scott will be out for some time with a knee injury, the full extent of which is still not known. Shackleton has a burst tow and both Ford and Swift are suffering from pulled muscles.
Mortensen had treatment after being struck on the head by a ball which Ward (Derby County) intended for a shot at goal and was later bowled over heavily in a tackle by Paul (Swansea Town), the Welsh right-half.
Finney went into tackle gingerly and appeared to be not quite confident about his knee injury, which has kept him out of many of Preston's game this season.
Milburn's throat was swollen from a blow soon after the start of the international match and he was treated by the trainer during the game." - Clifford Webb, The Daily Herald, Friday, 12 November 1948.