Villa's play their first League game over a month after their first Intertoto outing but there is little sign that the early start has helped form build as they are held at lowly Leicester.

Turkey international centre back Alpay Özalan, 27, made his debut in a Villa shirt and so the fun begins. Özalan had joined from Fenerbahçe S.K. for a fee of £8,100,000 in July 2000 to become the 747th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football but no-one could have imagined the chaos that he would bring to the club. 

Someone who would prove to be equally disruptive was his fellow debutant and former french international winger David Ginola, 33, who makes his debut after being acquired by the Chairman from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £3,000,000 in July 2000 to become the 747th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football 

Paul Merson makes his 75th appearance in a Villa shirt (60 Starts) to make it W31 D21 L23, 10 Goals, 11 Assists, 6 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.57 games played so far in his Villa career.

Steve Stone makes his 50th appearance in a Villa shirt (29 Starts) to make it W21 D14 L15, 3 Goal, 9 Assists and 3 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Former Villa centre forward, Stan Collymore, lines up against his old club for the first time.

Villa make it 2 goals and 2 points from a potential 9 as they fall 0-3 behind in just over half an hour to continue their poor start to the campaign under John Gregory. 

Villa sit 19th in the early Premier League table having finished 6th last season. 

Ian Taylor makes his 225th appearance in a Villa shirt (205 Starts) to make it W99 D56 L70, 32 Goals, 13 Assists, 44 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Steve Stone contributes his 10th goal involvement on his 52nd appearance in a Villa shirt (31 Starts) to make it W21 D15 L16, 4 Goals, 6 Assists and 3 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa win for the first time in four Premier League games this season to climb to 14th in the table under John Gregory.

Forward Luc Nilis, 33, makes his final appearance in a Villa shirt after just 5 games having suffered a sickening and career ending injury in the 7th minute of the game at Portman Road. Nilis who had impressed so greatly already retired with a record of W2 D1 L2 and 2 Goals.

In his short time with the club Nilis had shown skill and touch to add a new dimension to John Gregory’s Villa and his loss was felt keenly as those characteristics proved difficult to replace. 

Centre back Ugo Ehiogu, 27, makes his 303rd and final appearance in a Villa shirt (286 Starts) to make it W140 D72 L91, 15 Goals, 8 Assists, 39 Bookings and 2 Red Cards across his 9 years in the first team.

Ehiogu’s choice to move to mid-table also rans Middlesbrough raised eye-brows at the time and unsurprisingly his career was never to again reach the heights he had seen at Villa. 

Ehiogu’s premature departure was surrounded by innuendo but it is believed that he did not see eye to eye with Gregory and the player opted for a lucrative Middlesbrough contract as a way out with hopes that a move to another club of Villa’s stature would result. It didn’t. 

Although Villa received £8,000,000 in the deal, a handsome profit on the £40,000 they paid West Bromwich Albion for the then 19 year old, most fans’ preference would have been to have kept the man and foregone the money but the player’s head was turned by a squad full of disruptive influences from the likes of David James, Gareth Southgate, George Boateng, Alpay Özalan, Julian Joachim and David Ginola, all of whom would eventually move on to lesser clubs and careers.

Ehiogu’s agitation for a move stood in stark contrast to the behaviour of model professionals such as Dion Dublin, Gareth Barry, Alan Wright and Ian Taylor and illustrated just how haphazardly John Gregory had built a talented, but underperforming squad.

Dion Dublin secures his 25th win in a Villa shirt on his 63rd appearance (59 Starts) to make it W25 D17 L21, 28 Goals, 7 Assists and 5 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 1.80 games played so far in his Villa career.

Villa make it successive Premier League wins to climb to seventh in the table under John Gregory.

Villa’s hero of their 1999-00 FA Cup run, Benito Carbone, lined up for Bradford City after his summer of discontent but despite his mercurial presence Villa record a second successive win to rise to 7th in the table under John Gregory.

Ian Taylor secures his 100th win in a Villa shirt on his 226th appearance (205 Starts) to make it W100 D56 L70, 32 Goals, 13 Assists, 44 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

George Boateng makes his 50th start in a Villa shirt (53 Appearances) to make it W24 D16 L12, 3 Goals and 13 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Lee Hendrie contributes his 21st goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 117th appearance (83 Starts) to make it W53 D27 L37, 11 Goals, 10 Assists, 22 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 5.85 games he has played so far in his Villa career.

Despite being unbeaten in 3 Premier League games under John Gregory a Villa squad wracked with discontent concede an 89' Alpay own goal to hand Boro an undeserved draw to fall back to 9th in the table 

Alan Wright makes his 250th appearance in a Villa shirt (247 Starts) to make it W113 D63 L74, 4 Goals, 21 Assists and 14 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa make it 3 wins in 4 unbeaten games under John Gregory to rise to 5th in the early Premier League table.

George Boateng secures his 25th win in a Villa shirt on his 55th appearance (51 Starts) to make it W25 D17 L13, 3 Goals and 13 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Lee Hendrie contributes his 11th assist in a Villa shirt on his 119th appearance (84 Starts) to make it W54 D28 L37, 11 Goals, 11 Assists, 22 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 5.66 games he has played so far in his Villa career.

Villa win for the second successive game to make it 3 consecutive Premier League victories and 2 defeats in 12 under John Gregory as they remain in 5th place.

David James secures his 25th win in a Villa shirt on his 55th appearance to make it W25 D16 L14, 47 Goals Conceded at a rate of 0.85 goals per game and 22 Clean Sheets (40%) so far in his Villa career.

Two goals in two minutes sink Villa and end their run of three league wins.

Villa lose for the first time in six and only the third time in thirteen as acrimony continues to build behind the scenes as Doug Ellis again refuses to spend.

Villa draw successive games as they fall back to seventh in the table without a win in three Premier League games under John Gregory.

David Ginola contributes his first assist in a Villa shirt on his 9th appearance (5 Starts) to make it W4 D3 L2, 1 Assist and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Paul Merson makes his 75th start in a Villa shirt (90 Appearances) to make it W37 D26 L27, 13 Goals, 13 Assists, 6 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.46 games played so far in his Villa career.

Lee Hendrie collects his 25th booking in a Villa shirt on his 125th appearance (88 Starts) to make it W54 D31 L40, 11 Goals, 11 Assists, 25 Bookings and 2 Red Cards at a rate of a card every 4.6 games so far in his Villa career.

Future Villa winger Nolberto Solano scores a late equaliser as future Villa players Shay Given and Aaron Hughes also line up for Newcastle.

Villa without a win in 4 under John Gregory draw a 3rd successive game and drop to 8th in the table with no sign of the much needed and much demanded new recruits. 

Dion Dublin makes his 75th appearance in a Villa shirt (71 Starts) to make it W29 D22 L24, 31 Goals, 9 Assists and 5 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 1.88 games played so far in his Villa career.

David Ginola makes his 10th appearance in a Villa shirt (6 Starts) to make it W4 D4 L2, 0 Goals, 2 Assists and 3 Bookings  at a goal involvement rate of one for every 5.00 games played so far in his Villa career.

Villa draw for the fourth game in a row under John Gregory as the greed and disloyalty of senior internationals in the dressing room is laid bare by a manager not given to excusing his players' poor judgement.

Lee Hendrie is sent off for the second time this season as the David Ginola melodrama continues, on the pitch however three assists in three games shows the veteran still can produce if he puts his mind to it.

David Ginola scores his 1st goal in a Villa shirt on his 11th appearance (7 Starts) to make it W4 D5 L2, 1 Goal, 3 Assists and 4 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Lee Hendrie collects his 3rd red card in a Villa shirt on his 127th appearance (90 Starts) to make it W54 D33 L40, 12 Goal, 11 Assists, 25 Bookings and 3 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Villa win for the first time in six after four consecutive draws as they beat Leeds to move back up to 7th in the Premier League under John Gregory.

In a season where late goals have proved a prominent feature in Villa's games, another last minute goal, itself following an 88' winner, is not enough to stop Villa recording their first win in 6.

Darius Vassell secures his 20th win in a Villa shirt on his 39th appearance (37 Starts) but is now without a goal in 36 appearances to make it W20 D5 L14, 2 Goals, 4 Assists and 4 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 6.50 games played so far in his Villa career.

Another game, another late goal, this time at Villa's expense and in runaway leaders Manchester United's favour.

Villa lose for the first time in six games under John Gregory to fall back to ninth in the Premier League table.

Villa are held at St James' in the third round of the FA Cup ahead of a Villa Park replay.

Steve Stone scores his 5th goal on his 50th start in a Villa shirt (71 Appearances) to make it W28 D22 L21, 5 Goals, 7 Assists and 7 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Midfielder Gavin Melaugh, 19, makes his sole squad appearance for Villa as an unused substitute before moving on to Glentoran on a free transfer in August 2003.

Winger Nolberto Solano scores a late equaliser for Newcastle against his future club for the second game in succession.

Villa are hammered at Villa Park to make it three consecutive Premier League defeats to Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool to fall to 13th in the Premier League.

Villa lose 3rd Premier League game in a row under John Gregory.

Midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, 18, makes his debut in a Villa shirt after his promotion from the youth set up following his move from FC Bayern in July 2000 to become the 751st player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Dion Dublin makes his 75th start in a Villa shirt (80 Appearances) to make it W29 D24 L27, 32 Goals, 9 Assists and 5 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 1.95 games played so far in his Villa career.

Meanwhile, David James and Alpay Özalan do their best however to drag the reputation of the squad deeper into the mire.

Villa lose for the fourth consecutive Premier League game in a spell that began with defeat to Manchester United now included another defeat to Manchester United.

Colombian international centre forward Juan Pablo Ángel, 25, makes his debut in a Villa shirt after joining from River Plate for a fee of £12,960,000 to become the 752nd player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football. Juan Pablo would go on to be a fan favourite on and off the pitch and a cult hero forever associated with the Villa despite, or just as likely because, his early experiences of life in England and support from the ever failing Doug Ellis regime being less than ideal.

Midfielder Michael Standing, 19, makes his 8th and final squad appearance for Villa as an unused substitute before moving on to Bradford City on a free transfer in March 2002.

Villa lose for the fifth successive Premier League game under John Gregory to remain 13th in the table.

Villa make it 1 win in 11 Premier League games under John Gregory.

Ian Taylor contributes his 50th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 238th appearance (217 Starts) to make it W104 D59 L75, 35 Goals, 15 Assists, 46 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 4.76 games played so far in his Villa career.

Paul Merson makes his 100th appearance in a Villa shirt (85 Starts) to make it W39 D29 L32, 14 Goals, 15 Assists, 7 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.45 games played so far in his Villa career.

Steve Stone makes his 75th appearance in a Villa shirt (54 Starts) to make it W29 D22 L24, 5 Goals, 7 Assists and 8 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa's terrible run continues as they are beaten by relegation certainties Derby to leave them with six defeats in eight Premier League games and freefalling to 14th in the table.

Villa had now won just twice in 14 games. 

Off the pitch, John Gregory, a man likeable in so many ways, behaves like an absolute prat over Juan Pablo Ángel's acclimatisation to English football. Billy Britain at its worst.

Villa win for the second time in five Premier League games to climb two places to 12th in the table with ten mostly winnable games remaining until the end of a difficult season.

Julian Joachim scores a brace to make it 3 goals in 5 days as John Gregory’s side move up to 12th in the table.

Paul Merson contributes his 30th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 106th appearance (91 Starts) to make it W41 D31 L34, 14 Goals, 16 Assists, 7 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.53 games played so far in his Villa career.

Villa keep a first clean sheet in 5 and make it 3 games unbeaten under John Gregory to remain 12th.

Lee Hendrie makes his 100th start in a Villa shirt (138 appearances) to make it W58 D36 L44, 12 Goals, 12 Assists, 25 Bookings and 3 Red Cards at a goal involvement rate of one for every 6 games he has played so far in his Villa career.

David James keeps his 25th clean sheet on his 75th appearance in a Villa shirt to make it W29 D24 L22, 71 Goals Conceded at a rate of 0.95 goals per game and 25 Clean Sheets (33%) so far in his Villa career.

Villa make it 5 unbeaten Premier League games as they secure their 3rd win in 5 under John Gregory to climb to 10th in the table.

Alan Wright makes his 275th start in a Villa shirt (278 Appearances) to make it W122 D72 L84, 5 Goals, 24 Assists and 17 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Lee Hendrie secures his 60th win in a Villa shirt on his 140th appearance (102 Starts) to make it W60 D36 L44, 14 Goals, 13 Assists, 25 Bookings and 3 Red Cards at a goal involvement rate of one for every 5.38 games he has played so far in his Villa career.

Mark Delaney secures his 20th win in a Villa shirt on his 52nd appearance (36 Starts) to make it W20 D15 L17, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 7 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Villa extend their unbeaten run to 6 games under John Gregory as they are held to a draw by West Ham to rise to 8th in the table - their highest position since the turn of the year.

Steve Staunton makes his 275th appearance in a Villa shirt (266 Starts) to make it W116 D74 L85, 19 Goals, 33 Assists, 16 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Ian Taylor makes his 225th start in a Villa shirt (248 Appearances) to make it W108 D63 L77, 35 Goals, 15 Assists, 46 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

David James concedes his 75th goal in a Villa shirt on his 78th appearance to make it W31 D25 L22, 75 Goals Conceded at a rate of 0.96 goals per game and 25 Clean Sheets (32%) so far in his Villa career.

David Ginola contributes his 5th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 22nd appearance (14 Starts) to make it W7 D8 L7, 2 Goals, 4 Assists and 6 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.67 games played so far in his Villa career.

Villa make it 4 wins in 7 unbeaten games under John Gregory to consolidate 8th position in the table with five games to play.

Juan Pablo Ángel having been played just once in the previous 6 games by John Gregory is now relegated to the subs bench for the first time in a Villa shirt to leave him with a record of W2 D2 L4 and 1 Assist so far in his Villa career. 

Villa are really not covering themselves in glory with their treatment of record signing Ángel, who although still awaiting his first goal in claret and blue, has had to contend with significant off-field issues since his arrival. As was seen with Stan Collymore under Gregory, empathy is not the manager’s strongest gift.

David Ginola contributes his 5th assist in a Villa shirt on his 23rd appearance (14 Starts) to make it W8 D8 L7, 2 Goals, 5 Assists and 9 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.28 games played so far in his Villa career.

Villa extend their unbeaten run to 8 as they secure a thrilling draw at the Valley to climb to 7th in the Premier League table - a position scarcely believed possible two months before.

Villa recover from a two goal deficit at half time only to concede a late equaliser to future Villa midfielder Mark Kinsella.

Ian Taylor makes his 250th appearance in a Villa shirt (227 Starts) to make it W109 D64 L77, 36 Goals, 15 Assists, 46 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

George Boateng makes his 75th start in a Villa shirt (81 Appearances) to make it W34 D25 L22, 4 Goals and 21 Bookings at a rate of a card every 3.86 games so far in his Villa career.

Darius Vassell scores his 6th goal in a Villa shirt and his 4th in 10 games on his 53rd appearance (5 Starts) to make it W24 D9 L20, 6 Goals, 4 Assists, 6 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 5.30 games played so far in his Villa career.

Dion Dublin contributes his 10th assist in a Villa shirt on his 92nd appearance (84 Starts) to make it W34 D28 L30, 35 Goals, 10 Assists and 7 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 2.04 games played so far in his Villa career.

Villa fail to score for the first time in 6 games under John Gregory.

Villa draw for the second successive game to extend their unbeaten run to nine Premier League under John Gregory as a late burst into the European spots remains possible with 3 left to play.

Former Villa captain Stuart Gray brings Southampton to Villa Park.

Villa record a 3rd consecutive draw, having failed to score in the last 2, but make it 10 unbeaten Premier League games under John Gregory.

Villa fall back to 8th in the table as hopes for full European qualification fade.

Forward Julian Joachim, 26, makes his 172nd and final appearance in a Villa shirt before moving on to Coventry City in an exchange deal that brought Mustapha Hadji to the club in July 2001. Joachim having misguidedly demanded a move away earlier in the season would leave with a record of W72 D41 L59, 46 Goals, 13 Assists and 2 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 2.92 games played so far in his Villa career. Joachim would play on until he was 45 but his career plummeted from his days with Villa, scoring just 11 in 57 at Coventry before dropping into the lower leagues and non league within 3 years.

Villa win for the 1st time in 4 but make it 5 wins in their last 11 unbeaten Premier League games with an 8th placed finish secured.

Villa's record signing Juan Pablo Ángel, having not played in the previous 3 matches under John Gregory and once again relegated to a substitute role, scores his first goal in a Villa shirt on his 9th appearance (7 Starts) in a truncated start to his Villa career to make it W3 D2 L4, 1 Goal, 1 Assist and 1 Booking so far at a goal involvement rate of one for every 4.50 games played so far in his Villa career.

Ángel hits the equaliser after soon to be Villa winger Mustapha Hadji had Coventry two up before half time. The winner not only confirms Coventry’s relegation from the Premier League but also extends Villa’s unbeaten run under John Gregory to 11 games.

Paul Merson makes his 100th start in a Villa shirt (115 Appearances) to make it W45 D36 L34, 16 Goals, 17 Assists, 7 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.48 games played so far in his Villa career.

Darius Vassell scores his 7th goal for the club to help secure his 25th win in a Villa shirt on his 56th appearance (8 Starts) to make it W25 D11 L20, 7 Goals, 4 Assists, 6 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 5.09 games played so far in his Villa career.

Villa lose for the first time in 12 under John Gregory as their 11 game unbeaten run comes to a crashing end. 

Meanwhile, the infamous group of destabilising wantaway players let Villa down on the final day to leave them 8th at the end of a campaign that had been punctured by the petulant, self centred and disruptive behaviour of a raft of players. 

Two England internationals, one in David James, whose career was rescued by Villa and one, in Gareth Southgate, whose career was made by Villa had rocked the Villa boat around the turn of the year demanding moves and destabilising the environment. 

Having lost Ugo Ehiogu in a similar fashion at the start of the season James and Southgate covered themselves in no glory whatsoever by biting the hands that fed them. 

Whatever their issues with the manager, their behaviour only reinforced the view that it was they not he who was the root cause of the dressing room issues. 

That both players came up with laughable excuses to engineer their moves - in Southgate’s case it was to move to a club to “win trophies” only to then rock up on generous contract terms at Middlesbrough - made them only look more like all that was wrong with footballers in the Premier League era. 

But although Southgate and James were the highest profile malcontents, they were not alone in causing unnecessary season long trauma in the Villa dressing room with the embarrassing David Ginola, the misguided Julian Joachim, the fractious Alpay Özalan and disloyal Steve Staunton all contributing to a seemingly poisonous atmosphere.

Against that backdrop an 8th placed finish was some achievement for John Gregory.

Gareth Southgate makes his final appearance in a Villa shirt before moving to Middlesbrough for £8,780,000, yet his antics in 2000-01 stayed far longer in the memory of Villa fans than any contribution on the field. Southgate would go on to manage Boro and lead them to relegation before unfathomably being given the England job within which the mutual distaste between himself and the club that made him was all too apparent.

David James makes his 84th and final appearance in a Villa shirt before moving on to West Ham United £4,320,000. His departure was not universally mourned. Lacking character and with a propensity to err meant statistics aside the team was never going to progress with his presence. For the player the lure of a fresh signing on fee proved irresistible and he left with a record of W33 D28 L23, 84 Goals Conceded at a rate of 1.00 goal per game and 27 Clean Sheets (32%) across his 2 seasons with the club.

Ian Taylor is sent off for the second time in a Villa shirt on his 254th appearance (231 Starts) to make it W110 D66 L78, 36 Goals, 15 Assists, 46 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Villa's early start to the season sees them defeated in Croatia but an away goal gives them a lifeline ahead of the second leg at Villa Park.

Villa face Slaven Belupo Koprivnica for the first time in competitive football, Slaven become the 144th team that the Villa first team has played in League or Cup football, Villa’s 28th continental European opponents and their first from Croatia.

A sick John Gregory absents himself from a mid July central European jaunt as an unembellished team with a week's training fall to a last minute winner.

Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill, 18, makes his first squad appearance for Villa after coming through the youth ranks.

Villa's challenging early start to the season continues as they lose in France in the Intertoto Cup semi final ahead of the second leg at Villa Park.

Villa face Stade Rennais F.C. for the first time in competitive football, Rennais become the 145th team that the Villa first team has played in League or Cup football, Villa’s 29th continental European opponents and their second from France after their meeting with FC Girondins de Bordeaux in their 1997-98 UEFA Cup campaign.

Darius Vassell scores a crucial away goal to keep Villa in the tie ahead of the second leg at Villa Park.

Darius Vassell scores his 8th goal on his 50th substitute appearance in a Villa shirt (9 Starts) to make it W25 D11 L23, 8 Goals, 4 Assists, 6 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career at a goal involvement rate of one for every 4.92 games played so far in his Villa career.

David Ginola contributes his 10th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 30th appearance (15 Starts) to make it W9 D11 L10, 4 Goals, 6 Assists and 8 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.00 games played so far in his Villa career.

Lee Hendrie collects his 30th card in a Villa shirt on his 149th appearance (110 Starts) to make it W63 D39 L47, 18 Goals, 14 Assists, 28 Bookings and 3 Red Cards at a rate of a card every 5 games so far in his Villa career.