After a terrible two seasons and with Paul Lambert still in charge Villa surprise with an opening day win at the Britannia.

Alan Hutton plays in a Villa shirt for the first time since Sunday, 6 May 2012 having been excluded from selection by Paul Lambert for the previous 27 months and 88 games.

Other previously banished players Darren Bent (last played Sunday, 19 May 2013) and Shay Given (25 January 2013) make the bench. 

Winger Charles N’Zogbia plays his first game since Monday, 22 April 2013 after missing the entire 2013-14 season through injury to make it 61 Appearances (42 Starts), W19 D20 L22, 5 Goals, 9 Assists and 8 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Although the return of talent was to be celebrated, the confused and contradictory transfer policy of recent seasons took another turn with a series of debutants few would ever have predicted as being targets, let alone first team players for the club.

Centre back Philippe Senderos makes his Villa debut aged 29 after joining on a free transfer from Valencia CF in July 2014 to become the 867th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

In another transfer that dumbfounded the fan base, left back Kieran Richardson makes his Villa debut aged 29 after joining from Fulham for £675,000 in July 2014 to become the 868th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Right back Aly Cissokho makes his Villa debut aged 26 after joining from Valencia CF for £2,250,000 earlier this month to become the 869th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Villa make it two unbeaten at the start of the campaign but are held to a goalless home draw by Newcastle.

Midfielder Carlos Sánchez, 28, makes his debut in a Villa shirt after joining from Elche CF for a fee of £5,400,000 earlier this month to become the 870th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Darren Bent makes his first appearance in a Villa shirt since 19 May 2013 following the inexplicable decision from Paul Lambert to exclude the player from selection for the entirety of the 2013-14 season for no apparent reason. This was then Bent’s 64th appearance (51 Starts) and had now been substitute in 12 of his last 18 games, starting just three League games, having only been a sub once in his first 46. Bent's record now stood at W24 D19 L21, 25 Goals, 3 Assists and 2 Bookings having scored 6 times in 23 games under Lambert - with 3 of those goals coming against lower league cup opposition - compared to 19 in 40 under his predecessors (1 Cup Goal against Premier League opposition). 

Nathan Baker makes his 75th appearance in a Villa shirt (70 Starts) to make it W23 D15 L37, 10 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Brad Guzan keeps his 25th clean sheet in a Villa shirt on his 107th appearance (105 Starts) to make it W37 D24 L46, 1 Assist, 161 Goals Conceded, 25 Clean Sheets, 1.61 Goals per League Game and 5 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa revert to type under Paul Lambert and deliver a woeful display to be knocked out of the League Cup by League One side Orient.

Joe Cole, 32, makes his debut in a Villa shirt after joining from West Ham United on a free transfer in July 2014 to become the 871st player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Shay Given makes his first appearance in a Villa shirt since 25 January 2013 having been ostracised by Paul Lambert for the last 59 games. Given's return to the side left him with 44 Appearances since signing under Alex McLeish 3 years previously and W10 D16 L18, 67 Goals Conceded, 8 Clean Sheets and 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.

18 year old Midfielder Jack Grealish makes his first start for Villa after his debut substitute appearance in May 2014.

Andreas Weimann suffers his 40th defeat in a Villa shirt on his 97th appearance (71 Starts) to make it W32 D25 L40, 21 Goals, 7 Assists and 7 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Just 17,000 watch Paul Lambert's Villa lose to League One Orient.

Villa make it three Premier League games unbeaten at the start of the campaign  as they win for the second time with victory over Hull.

Kieran Richardson contributes his 1st assist in a Villa shirt on his 4th appearance to make it W2 D1 L1 and 1 Assist so far in his Villa career.

Villa travel to Anfield and come away with a third victory in four unbeaten Premier League games as Paul Lambert continues to surprise in 2014.

Villa have collected ten points from their opening four league games for the first time since 1998-99 under John Gregory to rise to second place in the early Premier League table. 

Midfielder Tom Cleverley makes his Villa debut aged 25 after joining on a season long loan from Manchester United to become the 872nd player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Gabriel Agbonlahor scores his 80th goal in a Villa shirt on his 321st appearance (291 Starts) to make it W118 D95 L108, 80 Goals, 41 Assists and 38 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa's unbeaten run comes crashing down as they are well beaten by Arsenal at Villa Park.

Paul Lambert’s Villa lose their first Premier League game of the season and fall back to third in the early table as a result. 

Andreas Weimann makes his 100th appearance in a Villa shirt (74 Starts) to make it W34 D25 L41, 22 Goals, 8 Assists and 7 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Ciaran Clark collects his 30th booking in a Villa shirt on his 109th appearance (98 Starts) to make it W34 D27 L48, 7 Goals, 3 Assists and 30 Bookings so far in his Villa career. Clark has now picked up a booking every 3.63 games he has played.

Jack Grealish makes his 5th appearance for Villa (1 Start) to make it W2 D0 L3 so far in his Villa career.

Meanwhile, off the pitch, in a move that stretches credulity beyond reason, Paul Lambert is handed a fresh deal to keep him at the club for another 4 years despite a record of W30 D20 L43 at a rate of 1.18 points per game - the worst record of any Villa manager after 93 games in charge.

Villa lose 0-3 for the second successive game as their unbeaten start to the League season is left well behind.

Villa lose their second Premier League game of the season and second in succession under Paul Lambert to fall back to sixth in the early table as a result.

Andreas Weimann makes his 75th start in a Villa shirt (101 Appearances) to make it W34 D25 L42, 22 Goals, 8 Assists and 7 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa lose for the third consecutive game and suffer their second successive Villa Park defeat as life returns to normal under Paul Lambert.

Villa have now failed to score in 21 of the last 45 games under Paul Lambert.

Villa lose for the 12th time in 23 home games under Paul Lambert.

Christian Benteke returns to the squad as a substitute following 15 games out with injury to make it 68 appearances (63 Starts) W23 D14 L31, 35 Goals, 11 Assists, 12 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Nathan Baker suffers his 40th defeat in a Villa shirt on his 79th Appearance (74 Starts) to make it W24 D15 L40, 10 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Ashley Westwood makes his 75th appearance in a Villa (73 Starts) to make it W22 D17 L36, 3 Goals, 8 Assists and 11 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa lose and fail to score for the fourth consecutive game as the Lambert regime mystifyingly is allowed to continue despite calamity lurking around every corner.

Villa have failed to score in 22 of the last 46 games under Paul Lambert.

Nathan Baker makes his 75th start in a Villa shirt (80 Appearances) to make it W24 D15 L41, 10 Bookings and 1 Red Card.

Brad Guzan loses for the 50th time in a Villa shirt on his 113th appearance (111 Starts) to make it W39 D24 L50, 1 Assist, 173 Goals Conceded, 26 Clean Sheets, 1.63 Goals per League Game and 6 Bookings.

Villa score for the first time in six but lose a sixth consecutive game as Paul Lambert's reign continues to bring damaging failure to the club.

Villa have now lost 49 of the 98 games played under Paul Lambert.

Christian Benteke is sent off for the 2nd time in a Villa shirt on his 71st appearance (66 Starts) to make it W23 D14 L34, 35 Goals, 11 Assists, 12 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Andreas Weimann contributes his 31st goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 105th appearance (78 Starts) to make it W34 D25 L46, 23 Goals, 8 Assists and 9 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa score for the second time in eight games to record a second successive draw after a run of six defeats under Paul Lambert.

Villa's failure to win means they have just 3 wins in 12 Premier League matches under Paul Lambert this season. 

Lambert has now lost 49 of the 100 games he has been in charge, 

Forward Darren Bent makes his 71st and final appearance for Villa as a substitute (52 Starts) aged 30 before moving on to Derby County on a free transfer in July 2015. Bent had joined Villa from Sunderland for £19,350,000 in January 2011 but was criminally underused by Lambert. Indeed Lambert treated Bent abominably and it was credit to the player that he didn’t make a fuss despite Villa crying out for his goalscoring ability to complement Christian Benteke. Sadly by the time a new manager appeared on the scene Bent couldn’t be recalled from his loan spell and he never again had the chance to prove his worth in claret and blue. Under Lambert, Bent had now been substitute in 18 of his last 25 games, starting just three League games, having only been a sub once in his first 46. Bent's record was left to stand at W26 D20 L25, 25 Goals, 3 Assists and 2 Bookings having scored 6 times in 31 games under Lambert - with 3 of those goals coming against lower league cup opposition - compared to 19 in 40 under his predecessors (1 Cup Goal against Premier League opposition). Of the utter stupidity that seeped throughout the club during Lambert’s reign, Bent was, and remains the poster boy of the dereliction of duty wrought by Lambert. 

Ciaran Clark makes his 100th start in a Villa shirt (113 Appearances) to make it W34 D29 L50, 7 Goals, 4 Assists and 30 Bookings. Clark has now picked up a booking every 3.77 games he has played so far in his Villa career.

Off the pitch Paul Lambert's number 2, Roy Keane, leaves the club as quickly as he arrived.

Villa are held to a third successive draw as they concede a late equaliser at Turf Moor to leave them winless in nine under Paul Lambert.

Villa have won just 3 of 13 Premier League games under Paul Lambert this season.

Tom Cleverley makes his 10th appearance in a Villa shirt to make it W1 D1 L6 and 3 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Alan Hutton collects his 10th booking in a Villa shirt on his 45th appearance (43 Starts) to make it W9 D17 L19, 2 Assists, 10 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Joe Cole scores for the first time in a Villa shirt on his 4th appearance (2 Starts) to earn Villa a draw and make it W0 D1 L3 so far in his Villa career.

Villa win for the first time in ten games under Paul Lambert as they score their eighth goal in fourteen games.

Villa record their 4th Premier League victory in 14 games under Paul Lambert.

Villa win consecutive games for the first time since September as their unbeaten run extends to five Premier League games under Paul Lambert.

Paul Lambert’s Villa win for the second successive game and record their fifth Premier League victory in fifteen and their second at home in seven. As a result Villa climb to 11th in the table.

Alan Hutton scores his first goal in a Villa shirt on his 47th appearance (45 Starts) to make it W11 D17 L19, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 11 Bookings and 1 Red Card. Paul Lambert had refused to select Hutton for 88 games between May 2012 and August 2014 and his goal would come on his 13th appearance following his return to the line up.

Gabriel Agbonlahor makes his 300th start in a Villa shirt (331 Appearances) to make it W120 D98 L113, 81 Goals, 41 Assists and 41 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Charles N'Zogbia makes his 50th start in a Villa shirt on his (72 Appearances) to make it W22 D23 L27, 5 Goals, 11 Assists and 10 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Christian Benteke contributes his 48th goal involvement and secures his 25th win in a Villa shirt on his 73rd appearance (68 Starts) to make it W25 D14 L34, 36 Goals, 12 Assists, 12 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career. Benteke's record deserved so much more than a win rate of 1:3.

Villa lose for the first time in six but the seventh time in sixteen under Paul Lambert and fail to score for the eighth time this season.

Villa lose for 7th time in 16 under Paul Lambert.

Kieran Richardson is sent off on his 15th appearance in a Villa shirt (10 Starts) to make it W5 D3 L7, 1 Assist, 1 Booking and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Villa lose to bottom side Leicester to leave them winless in six Premier League games under Paul Lambert as the Villa hierarchy sleepwalks to relegation.

Villa lose their 9th game in 21 Premier League matches having failed to score in 12 under Paul Lambert.

Christian Benteke makes his 75th start in a Villa shirt (80 Appearances) to make it W26 D17 L37, 38 Goals, 12 Assists, 12 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Ashley Westwood loses for the 40th time in a Villa shirt on his 85th appearance (83 Starts) to make it W25 D20 L40, 3 Goals, 9 Assists and 11 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Already a yellow card liability, Ciaran Clark is sent off on his 123rd appearance in a Villa shirt (109 Starts) to make it W37 D33 L53, 8 Goals, 4 Assists and 37 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career. Clark has now picked up a card every 3.24 games he has played.