Villa once again overturn a two goal deficit to qualify for the Intertoto semi final.

Paul Merson, 34, makes his 144th and final appearance in a Villa shirt (125 Starts). Merson, a player with ability and influence far beyond the rest of the squad, who even as a cameo substitute could deliver a power of good to the team, was discarded. As a result in one move the team was robbed of much needed creativity. Merson would join Portsmouth on a free transfer the following month as Graham Taylor prematurely called time on a player considered to be one of the most talented and charismatic to have pulled on the claret and blue of Villa. Merson left with a record of W54 D46 L44, 19 Goals, 23 Assists, 7 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.43 games across his Villa career.

In sum then, this also ran Intertoto game, had implications far beyond the result on the pitch and signalled the huge challenges ahead for Villa.

Forward Stefan Moore, 18, makes his competitive debut in a Villa shirt after coming through the ranks of youth football to become the 760th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Swedish international forward Marcus Allbäck, 29, makes a goalscoring Villa debut after joining from SC Heerenveen for a fee of £2,700,000 earlier this month to become the 761st player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Forward Michael Boulding, 27, scores on his home debut on what is his second and final appearance in a Villa shirt 6 days after his debut and despite only having arrived at the club 26 days earlier. Boulding who had 23 goals in 113 appearances across 3 seasons in the lower leagues of English football was a curiosity, an ex-tennis player who Graham Taylor immediately promoted to first team football and who clearly was not of sufficient calibre to cut it in the top flight despite his scrambled goal in the win over Zürich. Boulding would remain at the club until the new year without making any further squad appearances and on his departure from Villa he would return to plying his football trade in tiers 2 and mostly 3. 11 years later, Jordan Bowery would make a similar transition from the lower leagues into Premier League football under Paul Lambert but this time would be afforded a full season before once again time was called on the unlikely step up.

Peter Crouch contributes his 5th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 9th appearance to make it W3 D2 L4, 2 Goals and 3 Assists at a goal involvement rate of one for every 1.80 games played so far in his Villa career.

Mark Delaney makes his 100th appearance in a Villa shirt (84 Starts) to make it W38 D31 L31, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 13 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Olof Mellberg secures his 10th win in a Villa shirt on his 37th appearance to make it W10 D14 L13, 1 Assist and 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Villa face LOSC Lille for the first time in competitive football, Lille become the 149th team that the Villa first team has played in League or Cup football, Villa’s 33rd continental European opponents and their third from France following their meetings with FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Stade Rennais F.C. in previous campaigns.

Villa score a crucial away goal through Ian Taylor but concede in the last minute to leave the tie in the balance. 

Goalkeeper Stefan Postma, 26, makes his debut in a Villa shirt after joining from De Graafschap for £2,000,000 earlier this month to become the 762nd player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Peter Crouch makes his 10th appearance in a Villa shirt to make it W3 D3 L4, 2 Goals and 3 Assists at a goal involvement rate of one for every 2.00 games played so far in his Villa career.

In less positive news, Graham Taylor’s clear out of the Gregory era team continued as 30 year old midfielder Steve Stone is shown the door and follows Paul Merson to Portsmouth on a free transfer. Stone, seemingly underused by John Gregory despite his high fee signing from Forest, and then jettisoned early by Taylor, made 121 Appearances (86 Starts) across his 5 seasons with Villa to leave with a record of W42 D40 L39, 7 Goals, 13 Assists and 15 Bookings.

Villa suffer a shock outright defeat at home to Lille in the Intertoto Cup to render their away goal useless and end any European hopes before the season began.as question marks are already raised about the wisdom of keeping veteran boss Graham Taylor on for a second season.

Villa lose a second successive game under Graham Taylor but there is at least evidence of a player in his new signing Peter Crouch.

Right back Ulises de la Cruz, 28, makes his debut in a Villa shirt after joining from Hibernian FC for £2,430,000. de la Cruz excruciatingly described by Graham Taylor as the "Ecuadorian David Beckham" becomes the 763rd player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Alpay Özalan makes his first return to the side since injury ruled him out of the 2000-01 in December 2000 to make his first appearance under Graham Taylor and his 61st appearance in a Villa shirt. Özalan’s Villa record now stands W24 D18 L19 and 16 Bookings.

Villa lose for the 3rd consecutive game and 8th time in 15 league games under Graham Taylor as concerns mount about the season ahead. 2001-02 showed Taylor to be the wrong man at the wrong time and nothing so far makes that look like changing.

The continued trend for half time substitutions suggests one of 3 things. A lack of understanding or knowledge of the opposition’s tactics necessitating a change; panic in even the slightest adversity; or a tendency to field the wrong team in the first place. None of which give a feeling that the club is in the right hands.

Whatever is the cause the impact is disjointed performances and what seems like extreme tactical unfamiliarity for those thrown onto the pitch - not helped by the calibre of the new signings being brought into the club. 

Honest and uncomplicated attitudes may be a refreshing change but these are not additions that materially improve the playing quality of the squad and it is therefore difficult to see exactly what Taylor is trying to achieve.

Irish international midfielder Mark Kinsella, 30, makes his Villa debut after joining from Charlton Athletic for a fee of £1,040,000 in July 2002 to become the 764th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Meanwhile, off the pitch Olof Mellberg is already forced to disabuse rumours of major unrest at the direction of the club under the manager and Chairman.

Villa stop a run of three defeats as they win for the first time in five to secure their first Premier League win of the season by beating top-flight no hopers Manchester City, climbing to 13th under Graham Taylor.

Peter Schmiechel returns to Villa Park following his acrimonious departure under Graham Taylor.

Villa lose for the third time in four Premier League games under Graham Taylor and have failed to score in each of those defeats. 

This latest defeat, courtesy of Peter Enckleman conceding a second half penalty, came against bottom club Bolton as Villa tumbled back to 16th place.

Villa win for the second time in five Premier League games as Graham Taylor makes five changes in an attempt to inject life into Villa's poor start. 

Villa secure only their 5th win in 18 Premier League games under Graham Taylor but make it back to back victories at Villa Park. 

Villa score more than a single goal in a game for the first time this season.

Centre back Ronny Johnsen, 33, makes his debut in a Villa shirt after moving from Manchester United on a free transfer in July 2002 to become the 765th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Ulises de la Cruz surprises as he scores his 1st goal in a Villa shirt on only his 4th appearance (3 Starts) to make it W1 D0 L3 and 1 Goal so far in his Villa career.

Stefan Moore scores his 1st goal in a Villa shirt on his 3rd appearance (0 Starts) to make it W2 D0 L1, 1 Goal and 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Jlloyd Samuel makes his 50th appearance in a Villa shirt (31 Starts) to make it W16 D15 L19, 3 Assists, 7 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Alpay Özalan plays for the first time in a month after Graham Taylor has all but overlooked the Turkey international so far in 2002-03. Özalan secures his 25th win in a Villa shirt on his 62nd appearance to make it W25 D18 L19 and 16 Bookings.

Villa lose for the 10th time in 19 Premier League games under Graham Taylor, winning just 5. 

Villa fail to score for the 4th time in 6 League games under Graham Taylor.

Villa lose against Birmingham for the first time in 7 games and for the first time at St Andrews' since 1984.

This latest defeat however, despite the form of the team under Graham Taylor, was totally unexpected and represented Villa’s first reverse against their neighbours in over 15 years. 

The major talking point however was referee David Elleray’s decision to allow a goal that wasn’t. 

Olof Mellberg took a throw in with the intention of passing the ball back to ‘keeper Enckelman however Enckelman, for unknown reasons, failed to connect with and allowed the ball roll past his foot and into the net. 

As such the ball hadn’t been touched from the throw-in and was officially a dead ball. 

Obviously a dead ball meant no goal could be conceded.

Elleray however either misinterpreted the rules or misread the passage of play - he would never admit either - and erroneously awarded the goal to Birmingham. 

Few recall anything other than Enckelman but the the real mistake was Elleray’s seemingly forgotten misapplication of the rules. 

On the night however, despite a questionable offside decision ruling out a Villa equaliser, Graham Taylor’s side put in a performance of little quality that had become the norm over the previous six months and Birmingham, nearly two decades in the making, recorded a deserved win over their more decorated neighbours. 

Considered by many of the Blues’ persuasion to be the greatest night in their history, the victory triggered scenes of jubilation across Small Heath.

In 2023, in AVFC History’s conversation with Darius Vassell, the player whose goal Elleray incorrectly disallowed, the former Villa striker recollected in minute detail the validity of his goal and revealed that the real anger of that night amongst the Villa team was Elleray’s performance and his 57’ decision.

Steve Staunton makes his 325th appearance in a Villa shirt (313 Starts) to make it W134 D86 L105, 20 Goals, 36 Assists, 22 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Juan Pablo Ángel makes his 50th appearance in a Villa shirt (42 Starts) to make it W19 D11 L20, 17 Goals, 6 Assists and 6 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 2.17 games he has played so far in his Villa career.

Alpay Özalan plays successive games for the first time under Graham Taylor and first time since December 2001 to make it 63 appearances in a Villa shirt, W25 D18 L20 and 17 Bookings.

Villa seek respite from their League troubles as they see off Second Division side Luton Town to reach the League Cup third round.

Darius Vassell makes his 50th start in a Villa shirt (111 Appearances) to make it W41 D27 L43, 22 Goals, 8 Assists, 11 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.70 games played so far in his Villa career.

Lee Hendrie makes his 150th start in a Villa shirt (195 Appearances) to make it W81 D51 L63, 22 Goals, 18 Assists, 33 Bookings and 3 Red Cards at a goal involvement rate of one for every 5 games he has played so far in his Villa career.

Marcus Allbäck makes his 10th appearance in a Villa shirt (5 Starts) to make it W4 D1 L5 and 1 Goals at a goal involvement rate of one for every 10.00 games played so far in his Villa career.

Villa seek respite from their League troubles under Graham Taylor but still need a late cavalry charge to see off Third Division Oxford as things turn nasty off the pitch.

Ian Taylor collects his 50th booking in a Villa shirt on his 278th appearance (246 Starts) to make it W116 D75 L87, 42 Goals, 16 Bookings and 2 Red Cards at a rate of a card every 5.35 games so far in his Villa career.

Stefan Postma keeps his 1st clean sheet in a Villa shirt on his 3rd appearance to make it W1 D1 L1, 2 Goals Conceded at a rate of 0.67 goals per game and 1 Clean Sheet (33%) so far in his Villa career.

Dion Dublin secures his 50th win in a Villa shirt on his 137th appearance (111 Starts) to make it W50 D41 L46, 45 Goals, 15 Assists, 11 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 2.28 games played so far in his Villa career.

Mark Delaney secures his 40th win in a Villa shirt on his 110th appearance (94 Starts) to make it W40 D34 L36, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 13 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Juan Pablo Ángel secures his 20th win in a Villa shirt on his 54th appearance (43 Starts) to make it W20 D14 L20, 17 Goals, 6 Assists and 6 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 2.35 games he has played so far in his Villa career.

Villa win for the first time in 6 Premier League games to make it 4 wins in 13 under Graham Taylor and climb back to 14th in the table.

Villa secure their 4th Premier League win of the season. 

Villa make it 7 wins in 26 League games under Graham Taylor. 

Villa score 3 or more goals for the 3rd time 26 League games under Graham Taylor.

Öyvind Leonhardsen scores his 1st goal and contributes his 1st assist in a Villa shirt on his 8th appearance (4 Starts) to make it W4 D3 L1, 1 Goal, 1 Assist and 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Marcus Allbäck contributes his 1st assist in a Villa shirt on his 12th appearance (5 Starts) to make it W6 D1 L5, 2 Goals, 1 Assist and 1 Booking at a goal involvement rate of one for every 4.00 games played so far in his Villa career.

Jlloyd Samuel secures his 20th win in a Villa shirt on his 60th appearance (41 Starts) to make it W20 D18 L22, 3 Assists, 7 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Villa are held for the fourth time in six Premier League games to make it four wins in fourteen under Graham Taylor.

Villa fail to score for the 9th time in 14 Premier League games under Graham Taylor.

Villa, unbeaten in 4, now have 7 wins in 27 under Graham Taylor.

Villa win for the 2nd time in 3 to make it 5 wins in 15 Premier League games under Graham Taylor as they climb to 11th in the table.

Villa have now won 8 of 28 Premier League games under Graham Taylor.

Villa extend their unbeaten run to 5 games and make it 5 League wins so far this season under Graham Taylor. 

Villa have score 3 or more goals in only 4 of their last 28 League games under Graham Taylor. 

Dion Dublin scores his 100th Premier League goal. 

Lee Hendrie contributes his 42nd goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 199th appearance (153 Starts) to make it W82 D53 L64, 23 Goals, 19 Assists, 34 Bookings and 3 Red Cards at a goal involvement rate of one for every 4.85 games he has played so far in his Villa career.

Villa lose for the 3rd time in 4 in all competitions to leave them with 6 wins in q9 Premier League games under Graham Taylor as they remain 15th in the table.

Villa fail to score for the 11th time in 19 Premier League games under Graham Taylor.

Villa fall to their 15th defeat in 32 League games under Graham Taylor.

Villa have now won 9 of their last 32 League games under Graham Taylor.

Dion Dublin suffers his 50th defeat in a Villa shirt on his 146th appearance (120 Starts) to make it W54 D42 L50, 47 Goals, 17 Assists, 14 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 2.28 games played so far in his Villa career.

Villa win for the 2nd time in 6 Premier League games to make it 7 wins in 21 Premier League games under Graham Taylor as they climb back to 14th in the table.

2002 ends with 10 wins in 34 Premier League matches under Graham Taylor.

Rob Edwards, 20, makes his debut in a Villa shirt after graduating from the youth team set up to become the 767th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Thomas Hitzlsperger secures his 10th win in a Villa shirt on his 31st appearance (26 Starts) to make it W10 D6 L5, 5 Goals, 3 Assists and 3 Bookings so far in his Villa career.