No poor refereeing decisions this time but Villa lose their 6th game in 7 having not won in 8 since the opening day of the season and remain joint bottom of the table alongside Everton.

Villa take the lead, lose the lead, equalise as George Edwards scores an excellent solo goal for his second in two games before Newcastle hit two more to consign Villa to another defeat.

Winger Jock Mulraney makes his debut for Villa aged 32 after joining from Kidderminster Harriers the previous evening.

Villa's messy season continues but they at least claim a point having once again led a game only to be buried by the opposition. It takes a last gasp goal from Les Smith to collect only Villa's fourth point in nine games in 1948-49 as George Edwards scores in his third successive game.

George Edwards scores for the fourth successive game buy Villa, without a win in 9 games since the opening day of the season, lose for the seventh time in nine.

The opposition's ascent to victory begins with yet another penalty awarded against Villa.

Villa then have the balance of play in the second half but find themselves on the end of yet another rough decision as referee Thompson allows a goal despite a foul in the build up that incenses Trevor Ford to such a degree that the ball is launched from his boot with such anger that they're probably still looking for it in Didsbury.

Villa slump to the foot of the table as Everton win for the second time this season beating fellow strugglers Preston.

Forward John Graham makes his fifteenth and final appearance for Villa aged 22 before moving on to Wrexham in June 1949.

Villa win for the first time since the opening day of the season and the first time in 10 games.

Villa do it the hard way as three up at half time they scrape both points winning 4-3. Trevor Ford scores his first goals since his return from injury whilst George Edwards hits a brace and has now scored in his last five games.

Villa's win was even more critical than the statistics suggest given Everton's victory last time out had put them on 6 points from 10 games and Sheffield United also being on 6 points.

The win brought Villa level with both teams as they made up the bottom three in 20th on 6 points apiece after the 11th round of matches as Everton were beaten by mid table Burnley

Centre back Con Martin makes his Villa debut aged 25 after joining from Leeds United for a fee of £10,000 in September 1948.

Villa's improved results continue as they avoid defeat for the third time in their last four games with a draw against high flying Portsmouth.

Jock Mulraney scores his first goal for the club following his move four games earlier as George Edwards contributes a goal involvement for the 6th successive game (6 Goals, 2 Assists).

Villa climb to joint 19th alongside Preston as Everton lose to Blackpool and Sheffield United to Manchester City leaving Villa a point clear of the bottom two.

Forward Albert Brown made the last of his 31 appearances for Villa aged 32 before becoming player manager of Gorleston Town in June 1949. Albert suffered a broken jaw in two places after 70' and was hospitalised and would never play for Villa again.

Villa lose for the first time in three but remain 20th as Everton and Sheffield United also lose to Derby and Charlton respectively. Villa face Charlton next.

Villa win for the second time in four and it's a 4-3 Villa Park victory once again.

Jock Mulraney scores for the second successive home game.

Villa remain 20th but move two clear of the bottom two as Everton lose and Sheffield United draw,

Centre forward Syd Howarth makes his Villa debut aged 25 after moving from Merthyr Tydfil in June 1948 for a fee of £6,500.

Villa follow defeat with victory and now have three wins in their last six, drawing one as Dicky Dorsett scores his fourth goal in three and for the third consecutive game as Jock Mulraney makes it three assists in three.

Villa's latest victory sees them climb to 18th in the table, two points behind the defeated opposition and two points above the bottom two as Everton lose and Sheffield United win.

Villa record successive wins for the first time in 1948-49 and first time in 17 games.

Villa keep a clean sheet for the first time in 1948-49 and first time in 17 games.

Villa win away for the first time in 1948-49 at the 8th attempt.

George Edwards wins it with his 9th goal of the season and 9th in his last 11 games.

Villa climb to joint 17th leapfrogging their defeated opponents and open up a three point lead over the bottom two after Everton, their next opposition, beat fellow strugglers Sheffield United.

After successive wins open up a gap of three points to second from bottom Everton, Villa contrive to lose to the merseysiders at home and suddenly the table, always compact, looks positively threatening once again.

It's Everton's first away win of the season as frustrations boil over with referee Salmon and Les Smith is sent off for "throwing the ball" at the Stoke official. In truth Smith was simply returning the ball for the referee to restart the game from a free kick.

Salmon from as early as the first half was being castigated for his 'unusual' officiating culminating in his bizarre 85' decision that was met with vociferous protests from players, fans and staff alike.

Salmon was deservedly bombarded with boos as he left the field at full time.

Everton close to within a point of Villa as Sheffield United also win leaving the bottom three two points behind Alex Massie's men in 18th.

Villa lose successive games for the first time since September as they are beaten at Stamford Bridge.

It's also a second successive game of bizarre refereeing decisions - although the antics of referee Vickery are far less controversial than referee Salmon's a week earlier.

Vickery decides the game should go ahead despite thick fog enveloping the ground and pitch and makes the even more odd decision that bringing kick off forward by five minutes will somehow alleviate the weather conditions. 

That gates were delayed opening at his behest and spectactors were only allowed to enter at 1.45pm appears to pass the Bristol official by completely.

To the surprise of no-one - presumably except the referee - the conditions worsened and there was unanimous expectation that the game would, and should, be abandoned.

Vickery however revealed he felt that would be "unfair" to Chelsea as they were leading and forced the fixture to reach its conclusion in conditions of zero visibility.

As a contemporary match report had it: "it was farcical".

A second successive referee inspired defeat leaves Villa in joint 19th with 13 points now level with Huddersfield and Sheffield United and one point above bottom club Preston. Everton are now a point ahead of Villa following another win for the merseysiders.

Villa lose three successive games for the first time since September as they  surrender at home to neighbours Birmingham with relegation once again a real possibility under Alex Massie.

Villa drop to 21st, one point above bottom side Preston.

Winger Jock Mulraney made his twelfth and final appearance for Villa aged 32 before moving on to Cradley Heath in August 1949.