Joe Mercer's Villa, having destroyed Charlton 11-1 earlier in the season surprisingly lose at the Valley for their first League defeat in six and make it twenty two wins, nine draws and six defeats, five away, in thirty seven division two games so far this season. Despite the shock defeat, Villa are still odds on for promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt. Meanwhile, centre forward Brian Handley made his third and final Villa appearance aged 23 before moving on to Torquay United in September 1960.