Villa leave it late but open their second division championship challenge with a win.

Joe Mercer's Villa play their first game in the second tier for twenty two years following the previous season's relegation to win away at the Goldstone Ground. 

Meanwhile, wingers Jimmy Adam, 28, and Jimmy MacEwan, 30, made their Villa debuts after moving from Luton Town earlier this month and Raith Rovers in July 1959 respectively. MacEwan scored on his debut.

Whilst centre back Terry Morrall also made his first appearance for Villa aged 20 after joining from Church Rovers in 1953.

Villa lose out to a single goal at Sunderland to record their first defeat of the season. Bizarrely Sunderland's goalscorer and goalkeeper were playing with a broken leg and hand respectively.

Joe Mercer's Villa lose at Roker Park to make it one win and a defeat in division two so far this season. 

Meanwhile, full back John Neal made his Villa debut aged 27 after moving from Swindon Town in July 1959. 

Whilst, forward Jackie Sewell made his final appearance for Villa aged 32 before moving on to Hull City in October 1959. Sewell played for Villa between 1955-56 and 1959-60 making 146 appearances and scoring 40 goals.

Villa win their first home game of the season but the performance was far from convincing.

Joe Mercer's Villa bounce back from defeat at Sunderland to win their first home game of the season and make it two wins and a defeat in division two so far.

Villa draw for the second successive away game as they are held by bottom of the table Lincoln but they keep their three point lead at the top of the table.

Villa face Lincoln City for the first time in competitive football, Lincoln become the 87th team that the Villa first team has played in League or Cup football.

Joe Mercer's Villa extend their unbeaten run to ten but are held to a second successive draw - this time at Sincil Bank - as they make it eight wins, three draws and a defeat in twelve division two games so far this season as their excellent start to life in the second tier continues.

Joe Mercer's Villa suffer a shock defeat - just their third in twenty one - as they are beaten by Rotherham and make it thirteen wins, five draws and three defeats in twenty one division two games so far this season. Meanwhile, Alan Deakin made his Villa debut aged 18 after joining from school football in 1956.

Villa have Jimmy MacEwan wrongly sent off for an offence that he did not commit and which did not take place, and just as in their defeat at Anfield it's a former player - then Dave Hickson, this time Billy Myerscough - who takes the points. 

Villa, having had the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to five points are pegged back to a single point but the hierarchy will be appealing the referee's poor decision that left an already depleted Villa down to 10 men for all but four minutes of the second half.

The challenges though still keep coming thick and fast - next up is third placed Cardiff, level on points with Rotherham.

Described as a game that none of the 50,000 who attended will ever forget, Villa and Cardiff go toe to toe in a high tempo battle of two excellent football teams. Villa though, with the edge, take the win and continue their unbeaten home run. Villa remain one point ahead of Rotherham at the top of the table but open a three point gap to Cardiff in third and are now seven points clear of 4th placed Middlesbrough.

Joe Mercer's Villa bounce back from their shock defeat at Millmoor to beat Cardiff and make it fourteen wins, five draws and three defeats, all away, in twenty two division two games so far this season.

Joe Mercer's Villa record successive wins to make it fifteen wins, five draws and three defeats, all away, in twenty three division two games so far this season as their excellent progress towards promotion from the second tier continues.

Villa swat aside Brighton as their promotion push continues, second placed Rotherham can only draw so Villa reopen their two point lead at the top of the table.

Villa toil in poor conditions against bottom of the table Hull but do just enough to come away with both points, with Rotherham losing it is now Cardiff who are three points behind Villa in second place.

Joe Mercer's Villa record three successive wins to make it sixteen wins, five draws and three defeats, all away, in twenty four division two games so far this season as their excellent progress towards promotion from the second tier continues. 

Meanwhile, winger Harry Burrows made his Villa debut aged 18 after joining from school football in April 1956.

Bottom of the table Hull give Villa a second successive tough game. Villa, probably lucky to come away with both points from Boothferry, camp out around the Hull area but the northerners break away in the first half to take the lead. Villa on permanent attack and Hull with ten behind the ball cancel each other out and Villa have to settle for a point. 

Happily for Villa though Cardiff lose and Rotherham lose again extending Villa's lead at the top of the table to four points.

Joe Mercer's Villa extend their unbeaten run to four but end a run of three successive wins to make it sixteen wins, six draws and three defeats, all away, in twenty five division two games so far this season as their excellent progress towards promotion from the second tier continues. 

Meanwhile, midfielder Mike Tindall made his Villa debut aged 18 after joining from school football in April 1956.

Villa, flying along nicely, record yet another win in their quest for promotion, remain top, four clear of second placed cardiff, seven ahead of Rotherham in third, and nine more than Boro in fourth. Up next is mid table Ipswich, at team who Villa are unbeaten against in their three meetings to date.

Joe Mercer's Villa return to League action and extend their unbeaten run to seven, winning for the sixth time over that period to make it eighteen wins, six draws and three defeats, all away, in twenty seven division two games so far this season as their excellent progress towards promotion from the second tier continues.

Villa have a rare off day as they suffer a shock defeat at Ipswich, it needn't have been that way however as an own goal gifted the home side a goal on 80' and hit a last gasp winner in a game that could have gone either way to the last. 

Cardiff win and Rotherham and Boro draw to close the gap to Villa at the top of the second division table.

Joe Mercer's Villa lose for only the fourth time in twenty nine matches as their seven game unbeaten run comes to an end to make it eighteen wins, six draws and four defeats, all away, in twenty eight division two games so far this season.

Villa beat third placed Boro to open up a 10 point gap and make promotion a real possibility. 

The question then becomes who will be Champions, Cardiff who took top spot from Villa for the first time a week previously keep a 2 point gap thanks to their victory over Huddersfield.

Joe Mercer's Villa win for the first time in three to make it twenty wins, eight draws and five defeats, four away, in thirty three division two games so far this season as their onward progress towards promotion from the second tier continues. 

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Kevin Keelan made his Villa debut aged 19 after joining from Kidderminster Harriers in 1957.

Villa win their game in hand over Cardiff to close the gap to the leaders to one point but the game itself is little more than a bout of violence interspersed with quality moves from Villa that see them ascend over thuggish Derby.

Joe Mercer's Villa make it three successive wins and extend their unbeaten run to four as they make it twenty one wins, eight draws and five defeats, four away, in thirty four division two games so far this season as their strong progress towards promotion from the second tier continues.

Villa win at the Old Show Grounds without really trying and retake top spot from Cardiff, opening a one point lead over the Welsh outfit after their defeat to Portsmouth.

Joe Mercer's Villa make it four successive wins and extend their unbeaten run to five as they make it twenty two wins, eight draws and five defeats, four away, in thirty five division two games so far this season as their excellent progress towards promotion from the second tier continues.

Depleted Villa come out all guns blazing to then find themselves two down, conceding two more by the 60th minute, Villa are facing only their second home defeat of the season however Joe Mercer's men have other ideas. Scoring four to equalise, missing a host of other chances and an open invitation to score in the final knockings and they share a 4-4 draw with Liverpool.

Joe Mercer's Villa, in a season peppered with remarkable results, entertain with a four-all draw against promotion rivals Liverpool to make it five League games unbeaten and twenty two wins, nine draws and five defeats, four away, in thirty six division two games so far this season as their strong progress towards promotion from the second tier continues. 

Meanwhile, midfielder Trevor Birch made his final appearance for Villa aged 26 before moving on to Stockport County in November 1960. Birch played for Villa between 1954-55 and 1959-60 making 22 appearances.

Villa - with an opportunity to seal promotion - lose at the Valley but keep hold of top spot and a lead of one point over second as Cardiff are beaten heavily once again.

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.

Villa are back in the first division after a season away as two debatable penalties let them come from behind to win over relegation threatened Bristol City. Cardiff win though to keep the destination of the second division championship in the balance with the Welsh club a point behind with four to play and next up. 

Joe Mercer's Villa bounce back from only their sixth loss in thirty seven League games to beat Bristol City at Villa Park and make it twenty three wins, nine draws and six defeats, five away, in thirty eight division two games so far this season. With four games to play Villa clinch promotion back to the top flight and are in pole position to secure the second division title with Cardiff their only rivals.

Villa lose to Cardiff at Ninian Park and with three games to go lose top spot despite having held the pre-eminent position for all but two weeks of the season it looks like the Welsh club may pip Villa at the last to the Second Division championship.

Joe Mercer's Villa come off second best against title rivals and fellow promoted side Cardiff as they lose narrowly at Ninian Park to make it twenty three wins, nine draws and seven defeats, six away, in thirty nine division two games so far this season.

Villa beat Stoke to retake top spot from Cardiff as the Welshmen lost at home to Plymouth.

Joe Mercer's promoted Villa side make it twenty four wins, nine draws and seven defeats, six away, in forty division two games so far this season as they close in on the second division title with two games left to play.

Villa win, Cardiff draw, one game left and the Welsh side are two points behind and have a goal difference of 28 vs. Villa's 49, and a goal ratio of 1.47 vs. 2.25. As a result Cardiff need Villa to lose theor final game and for them to win by at least 20 goals to stop the title deservedly going to B6.

Joe Mercer's promoted Villa side clinch the second division title as they make it twenty five wins, nine draws and seven defeats, six away, in forty one division two games with one game left to play.

Villa leave the worst till last, promoted as champions they put on little effort in this end of season showing and to be honest who could blame them... top of the division for practically the whole season, only undone temporarily by adjusted priorities as they navigated their third FA Cup semi final in four seasons... there is little doubt that Villa were the pre-eminent second division team of 1959-60 and not only deserved their promotion but also an off day. Meanwhile, Cardiff can only draw to leave Villa in first, one point ahead of their rivals, who though less taxed throughout the season, deserve credit for keeping Villa close to the end.

Joe Mercer's Champions Villa lose their final game of the season but it hardly matters as they make it twenty five wins, nine draws and eight defeats, seven away, in forty two division two games. Villa under Mercer had delivered an excellent season and after a fallow period were once again in the ascendancy. A season featuring outstanding form, entertainment and some spectacular results ended with well deserved promotion and the second division title. Along the way Villa had also reached the FA Cup semi finals, sweeping aside three top tier sides, to put Mercer and Villa right back at the top of the footballing map.

Villa miss a penalty at Ninian Park and miss the chance for three consecutive wins.

Joe Mercer's Villa secure their first away point of the season as they are held by fellow promoted side Cardiff at Ninian Park to make it three wins, all at home, a draw and two defeats, both away, on their return to the top flight.

A fourth game in nine days sees Villa lose for the second time in two days against Wolves as Doug 'Jock' Winton concedes a handball penalty midway through the second half to put the homeside three up before a Gerry Hitchens inspired fightback doesn't quite level matters.

Joe Mercer's Villa make it successive defeats as their fixture congestion begins to bite. Villa had now played five times in the last thirteen days including twice in the last three to make it thirteen wins, ten at home, two draws, both away and nine defeats, seven away, in twenty four games following their return to the top flight.

A visibly exhausted Villa, playing their third game in three days, lead at Old Trafford until the last five minutes before conceding a late equaliser. Villa have a day's rest before they face Plymouth at Home Park in their League Cup replay.

Joe Mercer's Villa are held at Old Trafford and now have just three defeats in their last twenty two to make it thirteen wins, ten at home, five draws and nine defeats, seven away, in twenty seven games following their return to the top flight. 

Meanwhile, Jimmy Adam made his final appearance for Villa aged 29 before moving on to Stoke City in July 1961. Adam played for Villa in 1959-60 and 1960-61 making 24 appearances and scoring 3 goals.