Martin O'Neill once again sends a second string line up into action in Europe and they once again lose but qualification is secured due to results elsewhere and a UEFA Cup Round of 32 berth is Villa's.

Villa face Hamburger SV for the first time in competitive football, Hamburg become the 157th team that the Villa first team has played in League or Cup football, Villa’s 40th continental European opponents and their third from Germany after Berliner FC Dynamo and Bayern Munich in their 1981-82 European Cup winning campaign.

Martin O'Neill's 'Cup side' lose again in Europe but qualification to the Group of 32 is safe despite successive defeats for the weakened side.

Barry Bannan makes his Villa debut as a substitute aged 19 after coming through the schoolboy ranks following his move from Celtic in July 2004 to become the 814th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Steve Sidwell is sent off on his 13th appearance in a Villa shirt (10 Starts) to make it W7 D3 L3, 3 Goals, 1 Assist, 5 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a rate of a card every 2.16 games so far in his Villa career.

Moustapha Salifou contributes his 1st assist in a Villa shirt on his 11th appearance (5 Starts) to make it W5 D2 L4 and 1 Assist so far in his Villa career.