Eric Houghton's Villa suffer a fourth successive defeat for the first time since October 1953 and have now shipped eighteen goals in four games as they lose at home for the second time this season. As a result Villa make it one win, one draw and four defeats in six division one games so far this season, scoring eleven and conceding twenty one with an unexpected season of struggle looking inevitable. Meanwhile, full back John Sharples made his Villa debut aged 24 after moving from Heath Town in October 1955.