Joe Mercer's Villa suffer a shock defeat - just their third in twenty one - as they are beaten by Rotherham and make it thirteen wins, five draws and three defeats in twenty one division two games so far this season. Meanwhile, Alan Deakin made his Villa debut aged 18 after joining from school football in 1956.

Villa have Jimmy MacEwan wrongly sent off for an offence that he did not commit and which did not take place, and just as in their defeat at Anfield it's a former player - then Dave Hickson, this time Billy Myerscough - who takes the points. 

Villa, having had the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to five points are pegged back to a single point but the hierarchy will be appealing the referee's poor decision that left an already depleted Villa down to 10 men for all but four minutes of the second half.

The challenges though still keep coming thick and fast - next up is third placed Cardiff, level on points with Rotherham.