2019-20

Villa open the season with a harsh defeat in their first Premier League game since 2016.

Midfielder John McGinn scores his 8th goal in 45 appearances and his first Premier League goal to make it W19 D15 L11, 8 Goals, 8 Assists, 14 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

England goalkeeper Tom Heaton makes his Villa debut aged 33 after joining from Burnley for a fee of £7,920,000 earlier this month and becomes the 930th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Belgian centre back Björn Engels makes his Villa debut aged 25 after joining from Stade Reims for a fee of £7,200,000 in July 2019 and becomes the 931st player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Egyptian winger Trézéguet makes his Villa debut aged 24 after joining from Kasimpasa for a fee of £9,000,000 in July 2019 and becomes the 932nd player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Centre forward Wesley makes his Villa debut aged 23 after joining from Club Brugge KV for a record fee of £22,500,000 in July 2019 and becomes the 933rd player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Spanish winger Jota makes his Villa debut aged 28 as a substitute on 59’ after joining from Birmingham City in July 2019 and becomes the 934th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Midfielder Douglas Luiz makes his Villa debut aged 21 as a substitute on 82’ after joining from Manchester City for a fee of £15,120,000 in July 2019 and becomes the 935th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Despite a performance that deserved more Villa had now lost eight consecutive away games in the top division for the first time since December 1964. 

Jack Grealish - the only survivor from the disastrous 2015-16 Premier League season to play today - has now lost in each of his last 19 appearances in the Premier League; the longest such run by any player in the competition’s history. 

Villa ship two in eleven minutes after a 1' penalty award to leave them winless in their two PL games and end the second weekend of the Premier League season 16th in the table.

Douglas Luiz scores his first goal for Villa on his second appearance and first start for the club.

Ahmed Elmohamady makes his 75th start in a Villa shirt (89 Appearances) to make it W45 D22 L22, 2 Goals, 13 Assists and 3 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa end a run of 15 Premier League games without a win (W0 D1 L14). This was Villa’s first top-flight victory since beating Norwich City 2-0 in February 2016.

Right back Frédéric Guilbert makes his Villa debut aged 24 after joining from SM Caen for a fee of £4,500,000 in January 2019. After initially signing Frédéric was loaned back to SM Caen for the remainder of the 2018-19 season. Guilbert beomes the 936th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

John McGinn recorded his 20th win in a Villa shirt on his 47th appearance (1 Sub) to record W20 D16 L14, 9 Goals, 9 Assists, 14 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Wesley scores his first goal for the club on his 3rd appearance to make it W1 D0 L2 and 1 Goal so far in his Villa career.

Jota contributes his first assist in a Villa shirt on his 3rd appearance to make it W1 D0 L2 and 1 Assist so far in his Villa career.

Tom Heaton keeps his first clean sheet in a Villa shirt on his 3rd appearance to make it W1 D0 L2, 5 Goals Conceded and 1 Clean Sheet so far in his Villa career.

Off the pitch it is announced that three-time caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald had left the club with immediate effect following a bullying investigation after revelations were made by former Villa midfielder Gareth Farrelly in December. 

New look Villa hammer Crewe in the second round of the League Cup.

Right back Frédéric Guilbert scores his first goal for Villa on his second appearance for the club.

Centre back Ezri Konsa makes a goalscoring debut for Villa aged 21 after joining from Brentford for a fee of £11,970,000 in July 2019. Konsa becomes the 937th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Left back Matt Targett makes his Villa debut aged 23 after joining from Southampton for a fee of £14,040,000 in July 2019. Targett becomes the 938th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Defensive midfielder Marvelous Nakamba makes his Villa debut aged 25 after joining from Club Brugge KV for a fee of £10,800,000 in August 2019. Nakamba becomes the 939th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Centre forward Cameron Archer makes his Villa debut aged 18 after coming through the ranks. Archer becomes the 940th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Midfielder Aaron Tshibola makes his first squad appearance since 21 January 2017.

Villa suffer at the hands of a terrible refereeing performance from Kevin Friend.

“One of the worst decisions I have ever seen in the Premier League that has been given by a referee.” 

Jack Grealish makes his 150th appearance in a Villa shirt (104 Starts) to make it W60 D30 L60, 16 Goals, 20 Assists, 22 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Trézéguet became the first Aston Villa player to be sent off in a Premier League match since Aly Cissokho against Watford in April 2016. 

Former Villa forward Jordan Ayew won the game for Crystal Palace with a 73’ strike. Former Villa centre back Gary Cahill lined up for Crystal Palace. 

Former Villa centre forward Christian Benteke came on as an 86’ substitute for Crystal Palace.

Villa are held to a goalless draw by an unadventurous West Ham side at Villa Park.

Only three Premier League sides have conceded fewer goals than Villa (six) so far this season

No Premier League side has kept more clean sheets than Villa (two) so far this season. 

Villa remained in 17th place.

Villa go two up but are defeated in another questionable refereeing performance.

John McGinn scores his 9th goal for Villa on his 50th appearance for the club to record W20 D16 L14, 9 Goals, 9 Assists, 14 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Despite twice taking the lead and Arsenal down to ten men Villa concede three and fall back to 18th place in the Premier League.

Second string Villa beat a youthful Brighton side to reach the 4th round of the EFL Cup.

Conor Hourihane contributes his 40th goal involvement of his Villa career to make it W54 D27 L35, 24 Goals, 16 Assists and 21 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Jack Grealish contributes his 40th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 153rd appearance (106 Starts) to make it W61 D31 L61, 13 Goals, 17 Assists, 23 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career. Grealish had achieved 10 goal involvements in 62 appearances (35 Starts), his second ten had come in 41 appearances (25 Starts), his third in 31 appearances (29 Starts) and his fourth has come in 19 appearances (17 Starts).

Jota scores his only goal for the club on his 7th appearance (5 Starts) to make it W3 D1 L3, 1 Goal and 1 Assist so far in his Villa career.

More VAR woes for Villa as Burnley deny Villa a first league victory in three games. Villa remain in 18th place. 

Villa suffer heartbreak as a late equaliser prevents their second win of the season.

John McGinn scores his 10th goal for Villa on his 52nd appearance (51 Starts) to make it W21 D17 L14, 10 Goals, 9 Assists and 14 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Keinan Davis makes his 50th appearance for the club (20 Starts) to make it W23 D12 L15, 4 Goals, 3 Assists and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Tyrone Mings makes his 25th appearance for the club to make it W12 D6 L7, 2 Goals, 1 Assist, 6 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Trézéguet contributes his first assist in a Villa shirt on his 7th appearance (6 Starts) to make it W2 D1 L4, 1 Assist, 4 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Tom Heaton concedes his 10th goal in a Villa shirt on his 7th appearance to make it W1 D2 L4, 11 Goals Conceded and 2 Clean Sheets so far in his Villa career.

Former Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood and former Villa defender Matt Lowton lined up for Burnley, whilst former Villa loanee Phil Bardsley featured in the squad.

Villa hammer fellow promoted side Norwich on their home patch as results finally match performances in the League.

Villa record their biggest league win since hitting 6 in the defeat of Sunderland at Villa Park in April 2013. 

This was Villa’s biggest away win since thrashing Derby County 6-0 at Pride Park in April 2008. 

Villa are the first promoted side to score five goals away from home in a Premier League match since Bolton at Leicester in August 2001.

Anwar El Ghazi contributes his 10th assist on his 44th appearance for the club (37 Starts) to make it W19 D13 L12, 8 Goals, 10 Assists, 5 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Conor Hourihane makes his 100th start in a Villa shirt (118 Appearances) and scores his 25th goal and contributes his 17th assist to make it W55 D28 L35, 25 Goals, 17 Assists and 22 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Matt Targett contributes his first assist for Villa on his 4th appearance to make it W3 D1 L0 and 1 Assist so far in his Villa career.

Villa record successive wins for the first time this season as a last minute winner does for Brighton.

Matt Targett scores his first goal for the club on his 5th appearance to make it W4 D1 L0, 1 Goal and 1 Assist so far in his Villa career.

More refereeing controversy sees City handed the win on a plate.

Dean Smith takes charge of Villa for the 50th game and makes it W24 D12 L14 at a win rate of 48.00% and a loss rate of 28.00% delivering 1.68 points per game so far in his Villa management career.

Wesley makes his 10th appearance for the club to make it W3 D2 L5, 4 Goals and 1 Assist so far in his Villa career.

Björn Engels makes his 10th appearance in a Villa shirt to make it W3 D2 L5 and 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Villa qualify for the League Cup Quarter Finals for the first time since reaching the semi final in 2012-13

Douglas Luiz makes his 10th appearance for the club (6 Starts) to make it W5 D1 L4, 2 Goals, 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Villa suffer last minute heartbreak once again as Liverpool score in stoppage time to snatch victory from defeat.

Jonathan Kodjia makes his 100th appearance in a Villa shirt (67 Starts) to make it W41 D30 L29, 29 Goals, 8 Assists, 13 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Frédéric Guilbert makes his 10th appearance for Villa (9 Starts) to make it W4 D2 L4, 1 Goal, 2 Assists and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Trézéguet scores his first goal for Villa on his 12th appearance (9th Start) to make it W5 D1 L6, 1 Goal, 1 Assist, 4 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Trézéguet becomes the first Egyptian player to score a Premier League goal for Villa, meaning players from 32 different nations have now scored in the competition for the club (excluding own goals).

Villa put in their worst performance of the season to date as they are deservedly beaten at Molineux.

Villa lose two goalkeepers to injury within 8 minutes of Kick Off after Tom Heaton is ruled out pre-match and Jed Steer leaves the field (8’) with injury.

Trézéguet scores his second goal in two games on his 13th appearance in a Villa shirt (10 Starts) to make it W5 D1 L7, 2 Goals, 1 Assist, 4 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Villa bounce back from three successive defeats to beat Newcastle at Villa Park with ease.

Tyrone Mings records his 15th win in a Villa shirt on his 31st appearance to make it W15 D6 L10, 2 Goals, 1 Assist, 7 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Anwar El Ghazi scores his 10th goal for the club on his 50th appearance (42 Starts) to make it W22 D13 L15, 10 Goals, 10 Assists, 6 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Villa run Manchester United ragged and leave Old Trafford unlucky not to have won.

Jack Grealish scored his 20th goal in a Villa shirt on his 159th appearance (112 Starts) to make it W64 D33 L62, 20 Goals, 24 Assists, 24 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Tom Heaton concedes his 20th goal in a Villa shirt on his 13th appearance to make it W4 D3 L6, 20 Goals Conceded and 3 Clean Sheets so far in his Villa career.

Chris Waddle on Villa's performance: "Villa looked like the home side for a long period of this game. In the second half United upped the tempo but Villa lived with them and they deserved to win the game."

Tammy Abraham returns to haunt Villa but nothing would diminish the affection in which he remains held.

Ahmed Elmohamady suffers his 25th defeat in a Villa shirt on his 96th appearance (79 Starts) to make it W48 D23 L25, 3 Goals, 14 Assists and 3 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Former Villa loanee Tammy Abraham opens the scoring for Chelsea in the 24'.

Villa put in another poor performance - arguably only their second since the Wolves match - as they are outplayed and heavily beaten by Leicester.

Jack Grealish collects his 25th booking on his 161st appearance (114th Start) to make it W64 D33 L64, 21 Goals, 24 Assists, 25 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Following the death of Villa's greatest modern day manager, Ron Saunders, on Saturday afternoon, this match took place in appreciation and celebration of a great Villa man. Saunders led Villa from 1974 to 1982, taking Villa out of Division Two, winning two League Cups, the 1980-81 League title and setting up the basis for Villa's 1982 European Cup win to leave with a record of 395 Games, W181 D106 L109 at a rate of 1.64 points per game.

Sheffield United, the regular thorn in Villa's side whether playing in the same division or languishing in the lower leagues, strike again. 

A second successive below par performance sees Villa well beaten by a regimented United side. 

Villa have now lost six of their last eight games in the Premier League, winning once. Following Jack Grealish’s penalty miss Villa are now the only Premier League side to have been awarded a spot kick in 2019-20 to have yet converted one. 

Villa have now conceded more second half goals than any other Premier League side in 2019-20 (22).

Villa’s compete in their 21st League Cup Quarter Final since the inauguration of the competition in 1960 but their first since 2012.

Villa beat a youthful Liverpool in the EFL Cup Quarter Final after the Anfield side chose to field their first XI in an invitational tournament on the other side of the world.

After 10 months out with injury James Chester makes his 125th appearance in a Villa shirt to make it W53 D38 L34, 12 Goals, 1 Assist, 13 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Jonathan Kodjia scores his 30th goal in a Villa shirt on his 102nd appearance (68 Starts) to make it W42 D30 L30, 31 Goals, 8 Assists, 13 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Wesley scores his fifth goal for the club on his 18th appearance (17 Starts) to make it W5 D3 L10, 5 Goals, 1 Assist and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Ahmed Elmohamady contributes his 15th assist for Villa on his 98th appearance (81 Starts) to make it W49 D23 L26, 3 Goals, 15 Assists and 3 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Ørjan Nyland makes his 25th appearance for Villa (24 Starts) to make it W9 D9 L7, 36 Goals Conceded and 7 Clean Sheets so far in his Villa career.

Villa put in their third successive poor League performance and are well beaten by Southampton at Villa Park with alarm bells ringing loudly.

Villa lose Super John McGinn to injury in the 8’ and the dynamo of Villa’s midfield would not return until June 2020 and the restart of the Premier League after the COVID-19 shut down. The loss of John McGinn would prove to be hugely damaging to Villa’s system and their battle for survival in the Premier League. 

After a largely solid start to their first season back in the top flight and with reversals having been flavoured with more than a little misfortune, the first truly worrying of signs hit Villa like an unwelcome Christmas present.

Tom Heaton concedes his 30th goal in a Villa shirt on his 17th appearance to make it W4 D3 L11, 31 Goals Conceded and 3 Clean Sheets so far in his Villa career.

Villa struggle but eventually beat bottom of the pile Norwich at Villa Park.

Conor Hourihane secures the 60th win and 28th goal of his Villa career on his 127th appearance (107 Starts) to make it W60 D29 L38, 28 Goals, 18 Assists and 23 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Ahmed Elmohamady secures his 50th win in a Villa shirt on his 99th appearance (82 Starts) to make it W50 D23 L26, 3 Goals, 15 Assists and 3 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa's worst performance of the season sees humiliation at Vicarage Road.

Villa's difficulties in their first season back in the Premier League reach a new high as they are heavily beaten by 10-man relegation rivals Watford. 

Having shaken up the midfield Dean Smith had exposed the relative weakness (and slowness) of the available back up to the First XI.

Ahmed Elmohamady makes his 100th appearance in a Villa shirt (83 Starts) to make it W50 D23 L27, 3 Goals, 15 Assists and 3 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa follow up their worst performance of the season with one of their best only to be cruelly robbed of two players with ACL injuries, ending their seasons, and Villa careers.

Villa's return to top flight football suffered another huge setback, or two, as following the loss of John McGinn to a broken ankle that would keep him out of contention until June 2020, firstly Wesley in the 71’ and then Tom Heaton in the 85’ fell victim to ACL injuries that ruled both players out of the entire campaign and much of the following season.

Douglas Luiz contributes his first assist in a Villa shirt on his 22nd appearance (16 Starts) to make it W9 D2 L11, 2 Goals, 1 Assist, 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Tom Heaton makes his 20th and final appearance for Villa. Heaton would never play for the club again following his ACL injury suffered late in the game despite making the bench on occasion after a year out of the game. Heaton's Villa career ends with a record of W6 D3 L11, 35 Goals Conceded and 4 Clean Sheets.

Former Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood and former Villa loanee Phil Bardsley lined up for Burnley whilst former Villa defender Matt Lowton and future Villa midfielder Danny Drinkwater sat on the Clarets’ subs bench.

A second string Villa toil to defeat against an inspired Fulham side in the third round of the FA Cup.

Centre back James Chester makes his 126th and final appearance for Villa aged 30 before being released by the club in June 2020. Chester, who became a modern day Villa great following his £8,370,000 from West Bromwich Albion in August 2016, leaves with a record of W53 D38 L35, 12 Goals, 1 Assist, 13 Bookings and 1 Red Card.

Centre forward Jonathan Kodjia makes his 106th and final appearance for Villa aged 30 ahead of signing for Qatari Club Al Gharafa on 18th January 2020. Kodjia, a terrace favourite after a half decade of dross, leaves with a record of W43 D30 L33, 31 Goals, 9 Assists, 14 Bookings and 1 Red Card.

Winger Indiana Vassilev makes his Villa debut aged 18 having signed for the club from the IMG Academy in October 2017 to become the 941st player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Ørjan Nyland makes his 25th start for Villa (27 Appearances) to make it W10 D9 L8, 39 Goals Conceded and 7 Clean Sheets so far in his Villa career.

Villa boss Dean Smith: “We haven’t got any centre forwards, it’s as simple as that. Jonathan Kodjia came off the training pitch ill yesterday. Hopefully we can be as good as Manchester City last night. We’ve got no choice! We don’t have any centre forwards. That’s where we are.”

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers: “Aston Villa have no striker, that’s unfortunate for Dean but they have players who can play there, they have a good team and we’ll have to be at our best to get a result."

Villa battle to a creditable draw in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi final.

Jack Grealish makes his 120th start in a Villa shirt (167 Appearances) to make it W66 D34 L67, 23 Goals, 26 Assists, 26 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Ørjan Nyland concedes his 40th goal in a Villa shirt on his 28th appearance (26 Starts) to make it W10 D10 L8, 40 Goals Conceded and 7 Clean Sheets so far in his Villa career.

Trézéguet makes his 15th start in a Villa shirt (23 Appearances) to make it W8 D3 L12, 3 Goals, 2 Assists, 4 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Former Villa winger Marc Albrighton came on as a 79’ substitute for Leicester.

Villa suffer their biggest defeat of the season as Manchester City run riot against a side low on confidence and inspiration.

Midfielder Danny Drinkwater makes his Villa debut aged 29 after joining on loan from Chelsea for the remainder of the 2019-20 season to become the 942nd player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Villa rescue a draw at the AMEX thanks to a Jack Grealish special.

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina makes his Villa debut aged 37 after joining on loan from AC Milan for the remainder of the 2019-20 season. Reina becomes the 943rd player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Jack Grealish contributes his 50th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 169th appearance (122 Starts) to make it W66 D35 L68, 124 Goals, 26 Assists, 27 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career. Grealish had achieved 10 goal involvements in 62 appearances (35 Starts), his second ten had come in 41 appearances (25 Starts), his third in 31 appearances (29 Starts), his fourth in 19 appearances (17 Starts) and his fifth has come in 16 appearances (16 Starts).

Douglas Luiz makes his 25th appearance for the club (18 Starts) to make it W9 D4 L12, 2 Goals, 2 Assists and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Trézéguet makes his 25th appearance for the club (16 Starts) to make it W8 D4 L13, 3 Goals, 2 Assists, 4 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Villa's form continues to improve as they beat Watford at the last to make it two wins, a draw and a defeat in their last four PL outings.

Villa have now scored two 90th-minute winners in a single Premier League season for the first time since 1994-95. 

Villa won a Premier League game having been behind at half time for the first time in 51 games since beating Manchester City on 28 September 2013.

Villa have scored in nine consecutive home Premier League games for the first time since a run of 16 games between May 2007 and March 2008.

Villa survive an early onslaught to hit a spectacular late winner and qualify for their ninth League Cup final.

On the opposition We don’t normally do this but it is worth mentioning the attitude of the opposition supporters this evening. No-one could deny that Leicester have had and are having the most successful period in their history. Whilst no-one in the vicinity of Villa will be overjoyed at that it is perfectly clear that our recent fall has coincided with Leicester’s unlikely rise. 

A League title, a European Cup run and an FA Cup is simply unheard of for the East Midlanders. It is fantasy territory and really should be enjoyed as such. That’s why we advise Leicester’s fans, from somewhat bitter experience, to enjoy it whilst it lasts because, quite simply, it will not last forever, if even for much longer. 

The sheer nonsense that exudes from Leicester fans towards Villa is as bizarre as it is unworthy of both clubs, but particularly ours. Villa are unlikely to beat Manchester City in the final, just because that’s the way football now is, ironically it was that very fact that made Leicester’s title win so celebrated. 

Villa might currently be seen as yesterday’s men, quite possibly we are, but our period of success certainly outranks the likes of Leicester and yet we still miss those times badly. 

Leicester, and their fans, need to bathe in their current status, because be in no doubt, a semi final appearance will be something they can only dream of once again in a short few seasons. Something we know by bitter experience. 

Postscript: *Leicester would be relegated at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Villa qualify for their 9th League Cup Final and become the first professional club in English football history to contest a major final in 14 separate decades. 

Centre forward Mbwana Ally Samatta made his Villa debut aged 27 after joining from KRC Genk for a fee of £10,530,000 on 20 January 2020. Samatta becomes the 944th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Anwar El Ghazi secures his 25th win for the club on his 62nd appearance (53 Starts) to make it W25 D16 L21, 12 Goals, 12 Assists, 9 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Trézéguet secures his 10th win in a Villa shirt on his 27th appearance (17 Starts) to make it W10 D4 L13, 4 Goals, 2 Assists, 4 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Cup finalists Villa embarrass themselves in a poor performance at the Vitality.

Jack Grealish makes his 125th start in a Villa shirt (172 Appearances) to make it W68 D35 L69, 24 Goals, 27 Assists, 27 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Mbwana Samatta becomes the first Tanzanian to feature in the Premier League, with Tanzania the 117th different nation to be represented in the competition.

Samatta is the first player to score on his league debut (2nd Appearance) for Villa since Rudy Gestede netted in August 2015, also against Bournemouth. 

Villa score their first headed goal of the season and their first headed goal in the Premier League since Ciaran Clark netted against Watford in April 2016. 

Villa remain the only side in the Premier League this season yet to register an away clean sheets. 

Jack Grealish has been fouled 111 times in the Premier League this season, the only player to hit triple-figures in the competition in 2019-20.

Tyrone Mings receives his 10th booking (and one sending off) in 41 games for the club.

Villa recover from their poor showing last time out to take the game to Tottenham but see their luck desert them as a late mistake loses the game and effectively ends a career.

VAR and a slip by the recalled Björn Engels contribute to plunge luckless Villa to defeat. 

Björn Engels scores his only goal in a Villa shirt on his 17th appearance (15 Starts) to make it W3 D2 L12, 1 Goal and 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Centre forward Borja Bastón makes his Villa debut aged 27 after joining from Swansea City on a free transfer in January 2020 to become the 945th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Midfielder Danny Drinkwater makes his fourth and final appearance for Villa before returning to parent club Chelsea. 

Frédéric Guilbert collects his fifth booking on his 24th appearance for the club (21 Starts) to make it W8 D5 L11, 2 Goals, 2 Assists and 5 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Marvelous Nakamba collects his fifth booking on his 23rd appearance for the club (20 Starts) to make it W7 D4 L12, 0 Goals, 0 Assists and 5 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa follow up unlucky with awful as another woeful performance sees them beaten,

Villa lose a third successive league game to leave them teetering on the edge of the relegation zone. 

Centre forward Borja Bastón makes his second and final appearance for Villa as an 81’ substitute.

Frédéric Guilbert makes his 25th appearance for Villa (22 Starts) to make it W8 D5 L12, 2 Goals, 2 Assists and 6 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa go into the EFL Cup final as underdogs but take the game to City only to be undone by more generous officiating.

A team with the talent and resources of Manchester City hardly need the help yet it keeps on coming. 

To Villa's credit they made the game significantly more competitive than it was intended to be but a sixth League Cup triumph wasn't to be.

Villa appear in their 9th League Cup Final. 

Villa finish runners up in the League Cup for the fourth time.

Jack Grealish makes his 175th appearance in a Villa shirt (128 Starts) to make it W68 D35 L72, 24 Goals, 28 Assists, 28 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Anwar El Ghazi contributes his 25th goal involvement on his 66th appearance (57 Starts) to make it W25 D16 L25, 12 Goals, 13 Assists, 9 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Marvelous Nakamba makes his 25th appearance for the club (22nd Start) to make it W7 D4 L14, 0 Goals, 0 Assists and 6 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Off the pitch Villa record a £69m loss in their accounts for 2018-19 following the acquisition of the club by NWSE despite the sale of Villa park to a related business for £56.7m.

Villa's concerning form continues as they throw the game away at the King Power after arguably their ninth poor performance in their last seventeen Premier League games as the season is suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

As Villa capitulate at Leicester, leaving them looking odds on for relegation languishing in 19th place, it is revealed that club legend and one of the greatest people in Villa's history, Gordon Sid Cowans, announced earlier in the day that he was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. 

Villa had now failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 22 away games in the Premier League. 

Villa had now lost five consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since February 2017.

Björn Engels makes his 19th and final appearance for Villa (17 Starts) and after a challenging spell with the club leaves with a record of W3 D2 L14, 1 Goal and 1 Booking. Engels would however remain throughout the following 2020-21 season but would not appear for Villa again.

Pepe Reina concedes his 10th goal in a Villa shirt on his 6th appearance to make it W1 D1 L4, 13 Goals Conceded and 0 Clean Sheets so far in his Villa career.

Conor Hourihane collects his 25th booking in a Villa shirt on his 136th appearance (111 Starts).

10 days after the game the tragic news breaks that former Villa winger Peter Whittingham has died aged just 35, Whittingham had played for Villa from 2003 to 2006 making 66 appearances and scoring twice.

Meanwhile, Danny Drinkwater, an abject failure of a signing, is sent home from training after an alleged headbutt on Jota at Bodymoor Heath. Drinkwater, who made 4 appearances with a record of W1 D1 L2, 0 Goals, 0 Assists and 2 Bookings would never play for Villa again.

Villa return to action after a three month hiatus and secure a point after benefitting from a technology failure.

2019-20 is now the longest season in English football eclipsing the previous record of the 1946-47 season that was played until 7 June 1947.

Dean Smith takes charge of Villa for the 75th game and makes it W31 D16 L28 at a win rate of 41.33% and a loss rate of 37.33% delivering 1.45 points per game so far in his Villa management career.

Douglas Luiz makes his 25th start in a Villa shirt (33 Appearances) to make it W11 D5 L17, 3 Goals, 2 Assists, 6 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Matt Targett makes his 25th appearance for Villa to make it W8 D4 L13, 2 Goals, 2 Assists and 3 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa lose for the fifth time in six League games.

Kortney Hause’s goal meant he had now scored in each of the top four divisions in English football, with today just his seventh league goal. 

Ørjan Nyland concedes his 50th goal for Villa on his 33rd appearance (31 Starts) to make it W11 D11 L11, 51 Goals Conceded and 8 Clean Sheets so far in his Villa career.

Villa draw for the second time in three games but it isn't enough to kick start sufficient momentum needed to avoid relegation.

Villa’s secure their first away point since January.

John McGinn makes his 65th start in a Villa shirt (67 Appearances) to make it W25 D20 L22, 10 Goals, 10 Assists and 17 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Ahead of games against Liverpool and Manchester United, Villa fall at home to Wolves to leave them dangerously out of form and looking odds on for immediate relegation back to the Championship.

Ezri Konsa makes his 25th appearance for Villa (24 Starts) to make it W10 D5 L10, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 5 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Mbwana Ally Samatta makes his 10th appearance for Villa (8 Starts) to make it W1 D7 L7 and 2 Goals so far in his Villa career.

Villa can't repeat their heroics against Liverpool at Villa Park but the result is the same, defeat.

Pepe Reina concedes his 15th goal in a Villa shirt on his 7th appearance to make it W1 D1 L5, 15 Goals Conceded and 0 Clean Sheets so far in his Villa career since his arrival on loan to the end of the season from AC Milan.

More refereeing controversy helps United to a win at Villa Park and leaves Villa odds on for relegation with eight defeats in ten.

Set on its way by a questionable penalty, another questionable performance from referee Jonathan Moss and another lost opportunity for Villa as they fall back to 19th in the table, second from bottom, with four games to play.

Dean Smith’s loss rate reaches 40.00% for the first time since promotion to the Premier League and after 80 games in charge of Villa had a record of W31 D17 L32 at a win rate of 38.75% delivering 1.38 points per game so far in his Villa management career.

Tyrone Mings makes his 50th appearance for the club (all starts) with a record of W18, D11, L21, 4 Goals, 1 Assist, 12 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Indiana Vassliev makes the last of his six substitute appearances in a Villa shirt to leave a record of W1 D2 L3.

From nowhere Villa put in a proper performance and spring to victory at Villa Park to give a sliver of hope for safety.

Villa score two goals in a league game for the first time since January 

Villa keep their first clean sheet in the league since the opening day of the restart on 17 June.

Trézéguet scores his 5th goal in a Villa shirt on his 38th appearance (21 Starts) to make it W11 D6 L21, 6 Goals, 2 Assists, 4 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Pepe Reina keeps his first clean sheet in a Villa shirt on his 9th appearance to make it W2 D1 L6, 18 Goals Conceded and 1 Clean Sheet so far in his Villa career.

Villa go to Goodison and should leave with the win but a late miss precipitates an even later equaliser and Villa's relegation is called by all and sundry.

Ezri Konsa gives Villa the lead with a vital goal at Goodison Park before Anwar El Ghazi misses a sitter to put the game to bed and collect a second consecutive three points for relegation threatened Villa. Everton equalise with 3 minutes remaining on the clock and Villa tumble back to 19th. Fine margins. 

Right back Kaine Kesler Hayden makes his first appearance in the Villa squad at the age of 17.

Anwar El Ghazi makes his 75th appearance for Villa (62 Starts) to make it W26 D19 L30, 12 Goals, 13 Assists, 9 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Ahmed Elmohamady collects his 5th bookiing in a Villa shirt on his 110th appearance (89 Starts).

Villa refuse to die as another inspired battling performance sees them record a second win in three unbeaten games and suddenly Villa only need to better other people's results on the final day.

Matt Targett secures his 10th win in a Villa shirt on his 31st appearance (30 Starts) to make it W10 D6 L15, 2 Goals, 2 Assists and 4 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Henri Lansbury makes his 50th appearance for Villa (18 Starts) to make it W18 D10 L22, 2 Goal, 8 Assists, 7 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Villa’s win over Arsenal at Villa Park was their first in a Premier League game since December 1998 under John Gregory, ending a run of 17 home games without a win against the Gunners. 

This was the first Premier League game that Villa haven’t faced any shots on target for the first time since January 2016 versus West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns. 

Future Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez lined up for Arsenal.

Twists and turns aplenty but Villa never drop back into the relegation zone on an unpredictable afternoon and survive in the Premier League despite their winner being cancelled out by a hugely unlucky and hugely deflected shot. 

The final game in the longest season in English league history - and also the most bizarre. 

The woeful Video Assistant Referee, the mid season suspension for 100 days and the resumption of games behind closed doors saw this most strange and taxing of seasons face its reckoning today. 

To add to the intrigue Villa found themselves in a three way fight for Premier League safety and whilst Villa had put their destiny in their own hands being unbeaten in 3, winning 2 - the permutations, twists and turns and spectre of VAR remained. 

On this final day:

Villa face a resurgent West Ham, 

Bournemouth are away to a woeful Everton 

Whilst Watford whose season has come off the rails both on and off the pitch are away to Arsenal. 

Villa simply need to better the results of Watford and Bournemouth to guarantee another season in the Premier League. 

16.52 

HT Arsenal 3-1 Watford 

HT Everton 1-2 AFC Bournemouth 

HT West Ham United 0-0 Aston Villa 

A West Ham goal would see Villa fall into the relegation places.

17.27 

Watford pull a goal back at Arsenal 2-3 

17.33 

Former Villa striker Dion Dublin “Villa are looking the worst of the teams in danger of going down” 

17.39 

Bournemouth extend their lead at Everton 1-3 

Villa remain goal-less and a concession would guarantee relegation 

17.44 

Jack Grealish scores for Villa - his first goal since the resumption of the Premier League - with 6 minutes of the season left. 

17.46 

West Ham United equalise 

BBC Sport “Straight from the restart West Ham are level! Andriy Yarmolenko has a shot from a long, long way out, it takes a massive deflection off of Jack Grealish and loops up. Pepe Reina is slow to get back, he can’t get there and it loops in!” 

17.46 

Former Villa striker Chris Sutton “Heart attack stuff for Dean Smith, Villa thought they had done enough with the Grealish goal. Pepe Reina is so slow, the deflection came off Grealish but Reina has to do so much better than that. That’s the first real shot on target for West Ham, Reina has to do so much better than that.” 

17.51 

FOUR minutes added on. 

17.55 

FT West Ham United 1-1 Aston Villa 

FT Arsenal 3-2 Watford 

FT Everton 1-3 AFC Bournemouth 

Bournemouth and Watford Relegated.

Mbwana Ally Samatta makes his 16th and final appearance for Villa (13 Starts) to make it W3 D4 L9, 2 Goals and 1 Booking.

Pepe Reina makes his 12th and final appearance in a Villa shirt to leave with a record of W3 D3 L6, 10 Goals Conceded and 2 Clean Sheets.

Jack Grealish scores his 25th goal for Villa on his 186th appearance (139 Starts) to make it W70 D39 L77, 25 Goals, 28 Assists, 29 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.