Reigning Champions Villa lose for the first time in eight games to make it seven Division One wins, four draws and three defeats under Tony Barton. In total Barton had now led Villa for nineteen games and delivered nine wins, six draws and four defeats since taking over from Ron Saunders whose record over 35 games in 1981-82 had been fifteen wins, eight draws and twelve losses. Villa’s unsuccessful title defence now consisted of thirteen wins, eleven draws and thirteen defeats after 37 games. Meanwhile, Mark Walters made his Villa debut aged 17 after joining from school football in June 1980.