Villa win for the first time this season as Milan Baroš hits a debut goal to beat Blackburn at Villa Park.

Villa secure their 1st win in 9 under David O'Leary having lost 4 and drawn 4.

Milan Baroš, 23, makes a goalscoring debut in a Villa shirt after joining from Liverpool for a fee of £7,960,000 earlier this month to become the 782nd player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Patrik Berger, 31, makes his Villa debut from the subs bench after joining from Portsmouth on a free transfer in July 2005 to become the 783rd player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Steven Davis secures his 10th win in a Villa shirt on his 33rd appearance (23 Starts) to make it W10 D9 L14, 2 Goals and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Meanwhile off the pitch it is revealed that a potential takeover of Villa has failed after a bid is rejected by the club despite having "denied the opportunity to enter into any dialogue" with the bidders.

Villa are torn to shreds by Marlon Harewood and West Ham as they record their fifth loss in ten games under David O'Leary and leaves them with one win in five Premier League games this season.

Despite the result however, it’s a day to celebrate as two players who typify everything the fans value make their debuts. 

Dutch international right back Wilfred Bouma, 27, makes his Villa debut after joining from PSV Eindhoven for a fee of £4,230,000 in July 2005 to become the 784th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Winger James Milner, 19, makes his Villa debut after joining on a season long loan from Newcastle United in August 2005 to become the 785th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Joining the likes of Juan Pablo Ángel, Gareth Barry, Olof Mellberg, the injured Martin Laursen and Mark Delaney in the squad it remains a mystery how such talent and commitment aren’t being mobilised effectively to drive Villa forward. That they aren’t is perhaps the single biggest indictment of the O’Leary era as, despite having the nous to bring quality into the club, he continually fails to galvanise this outstanding spine of a team. 

Villa recover from their Upton Park hammering to draw with Tottenham at Villa Park but now have just one win in six Premier League games under David O'Leary this season.

Villa have now won just once in 11 games under David O'Leary.

James Milner scores his first goal in a Villa shirt on his second appearance to make it W0 D1 L1 and 1 Goal so far in his Villa career.

Jlloyd Samuel makes his 175th appearance in a Villa shirt (153 Starts) to make it W63 D47 L65, 3 Goals, 9 Assists, 22 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Steven Davis makes his 25th start in a Villa shirt (35 Appearances) to make it W10 D10 L15, 2 Goals and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Meanwhile Martin Laursen is ruled out for the remainder of the season with injury... but David O'Leary's madness knows no bounds as he claims he knew he would be months ago.

Villa recover from 1-3 down against Wycombe to score seven second half goals to reach the third round of the League Cup after another cup humiliation under David O'Leary looks on the cards. 

At half time former Villa trainee Tommy Mooney puts League Two side Wycombe 3-1 up at half time, but Villa respond in style in the second 45’. 

Centre back Gary Cahill, 19, makes his debut in a Villa shirt after coming through the ranks and signing professional forms with the club in July 2004 to become the 786th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Although it only comes against a League Two side, Milan Baroš, creates 2 and scores 1 to contribute his 5th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on just his 4th appearance to make it W2 D1 L1, 2 Goals, 3 Assists and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Steven Davis contributes his 5th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 36th appearance (26 Starts) to make it W11 D10 L15, 4 Goals, 1 Assist and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Lee Hendrie contributes his 31st assist in a Villa shirt on his 290th appearance (234 Starts) to make it W115 D73 L102, 31 Goals, 31 Assists, 58 Bookings and 4 Red Cards at a goal involvement rate of one for every 4.75 games he has played so far in his Villa career.

Liam Ridgewell makes his 25th start in a Villa shirt (37 Appearances) to make it W14 D8 L15, 1 Assist, 3 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Meanwhile another takeover approach is received and another bout of diminishment is triggered from Herbert Douglas Ellis.

Villa open the scoring but fall to defeat at Stamford Bridge to leave them with one win in seven Premier League games this season under David O'Leary.

Despite taking the lead and putting in a performance, Villa lose for the 6th time in 12 to fall to 15th in the table.

Juan Pablo Ángel makes his 125th start in a Villa shirt (148 Appearances) to make it W54 D37 L57, 52 Goals, 15 Assists and 9 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 1.86 starts so far in his Villa career.

Villa are well beaten at Villa Park by Boro to leave them with one win in eight Premier League games this season under David O'Leary.

Despite a second goal in as many games for Luke Moore, Villa lose for the 7th time in 13 Premier League games under David O'Leary, winning 1 to drop to a season low of 16th in the table after 8 games.

Midfielder Eirik Bakke, 28, makes his debut in a Villa shirt after having joined Villa from Leeds on a season long loan in August 2005 to become the 787th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Steven Davis scores his 5th goal in a Villa shirt on his 38th appearance (28 Starts) to make it W11 D10 L17, 5 Goals, 1 Assist and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Luke Moore contributes his 5th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 39th appearance (7 Starts) to make it W14 D8 L17, 3 Goal, 2 Assists and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa with one win in eight Premier League games under David O'Leary still find time to beat Birmingham at St Andrew's.

Villa record their 2nd win 14 Premier League matches to move up two places in the table to 14th. 

Villa win for the first time against Birmingham in 7 matches but for the 7th time in 13, drawing two.

The game is notable however for the bizarre and frankly embarrassing post match celebration from manager David O'Leary with cynics suggesting that his charge across the pitch in acknowledgement of Chairman Doug Ellis simply showed how entrenched they had become together regardless of the perilous place the club had been taken into under their watch.

Juan Pablo Ángel makes his 150th appearance in a Villa shirt (126 Starts) to make it W55 D37 L58, 52 Goals, 16 Assists and 9 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 2.20 games he has played so far in his Villa career.

Luke Moore secures his 15th win in a Villa shirt on his 40th appearance (8 Starts) to make it W15 D8 L17, 3 Goals, 2 Assists and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Thomas Sørensen keeps his 30th clean sheet in a Villa shirt on his 94th appearance to make it W36 D25 L33, 120 Goals Conceded at a rate of 1.28 goals per game and 30 Clean Sheets (32%) so far in his Villa career.

Villa lose at home to Wigan to leave David O'Leary with two wins in eleven Premier League games.

Villa lose for the 8th time in 15 Premier League games under David O'Leary. 

Despite just 2 wins in 15, O’Leary's post match comments suggest he has belatedly adopted a more collective approach since recording their second win of the season last time out. Long may it last, but it probably won’t.

Villa lose for the fourth time in five League games under David O'Leary and have just two wins in twelve Premier League games but the manager claims he knows "what's needed to put it right", just a shame he hadn't done it already.

Villa lose for the 9th time in 16 Premier League games under David O'Leary with just 2 wins as a player who rarely looked a scoring threat in a Villa shirt, Darius Vassell, scores a brace within half an hour of the start of his first match against his former club. 

Stuart Taylor makes an emergency debut to become the 788th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.after Thomas Sörensen is injured in the warm up, Taylor, 24, had joined Villa from Arsenal on a free transfer in July 2005.

Liam Ridgewell scores his 1st goal in a Villa shirt on his 43rd appearance (31 Starts) to make it W16 D8 L19, 1 Goal, 1 Assist, 5 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Patrik Berger contributes his 1st assist in a Villa shirt on his 9th appearance (4 Starts) to make it W3 D1 L5, 1 Assist and 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Off the pitch Villa confirm a takeover approach however Herbert Douglas Ellis does his level best to diminish any possible chance of progress.

Villa are held at home by ten man Tottenham but extend their unbeaten run under Martin O'Neill to nine in all competitions.

Juan Pablo Ángel has a busy day as he misses a penalty and then scores an own goal but Villa recover to claim a point and go 9 games unbeaten under Martin O'Neill - the first such run since John Gregory in May 2001.

Stiliyan Petrov contributes his first assist in a Villa shirt on his 6th appearance to make it W2 D4 L0 and 1 Assist  so far in his Villa career.

Didier Agathe makes his Villa debut aged 31 after joining the club as an unattached player in July 2006. Agathe, who previously worked with Martin O’Neill at Celtic, becomes the 792nd player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik, 19, makes his first squad appearance for Villa after coming through the youth ranks following his move from Austria Wien in 2003.

Two late goals at Stamford Bridge leave Villa with their heaviest defeat of the season and out of the League Cup as Martin O'Neill suffers his first big setback as Villa boss.

Juan Pablo Ángel makes his 150th start in a Villa shirt (192 Appearances) to make it W69 D52 L71, 61 Goals, 18 Assists and 12 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 1.90 starts so far in his Villa career.

Olof Mellberg suffers his 75th defeat in a Villa shirt on his 199th appearance to make it W68 D56 L75, 6 Goals, 6 Assists and 23 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Steven Davis suffers his 30th defeat in a Villa shirt on his 84th appearance (72 Starts) to make it W28 D26 L30, 9 Goals, 5 Assists and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Wilfred Bouma makes his 25th appearance in a Villa shirt to make it W8 D6 L11 and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Gavin McCann collects his 25th card in a Villa shirt on his 107th appearance to make it W42 D33 L32, 4 Goals, 3 Assists, 23 Bookings and 2 Red Cards at a rate of a card every 4.24 games so far in his Villa career.

Thomas Sørensen concedes his 175th goal in a Villa shirt on his 139th appearance to make it W51 D40 L48, 177 Goals Conceded at a rate of 1.27 goals per game and 45 Clean Sheets (32%) so far in his Villa career.

Villa end a run of 11 games without a win with two late goals to beat Watford.

Since the turn of the year, and the return of their first team goalkeepers, Villa have a win, a draw and a loss in the League and as a result climb back up to 14th place. 

Villa win for the first time in twelve Premier League games and the first time since November as Martin O'Neill's side beat Watford to sit 14th - having been 4th in the table when they last won.

Meanwhile a swathe of changes to the Villa squad are underway with the transfer window now open. 

Right back Phil Bardsley makes his Villa debut aged 21 after joining on loan from Manchester United for the remainder of the season to become the 796th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Full back Jlloyd Samuel, 25, makes his 200th and final appearance in a Villa shirt before moving on to Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer in July 2007. Jlloyd had made his debut aged 18 under John Gregory and over his 9 seasons with Villa had a record of W71 D52 L77, 3 Goals, 10 Assists, 26 Bookings and 1 Red Card. Tragically Jlloyd was killed in a car accident aged just 37 in May 2018. 

Forward Milan Baroš, 25, is put out of his misery as he makes his 51st and final appearance in a Villa shirt (40 Starts) before moving on to Olympique Lyonnais in an exchange deal that brings Villa legend John Carew to the club. Baroš had joined Villa in August 2005 from Liverpool for a fee of £7,960,000 and started with great success with his first 25 appearances delivering 10 Goals and 6 Assists at a goal involvement rate of one for every 1.56 games. Thereafter however things worsened, considerably. Baroš would score three times and create one assist in his second 25 appearances to leave with a record of W14 D19 L18, 13 Goals, 7 Assists and 7 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 2.55 games. His actual performance across those final 26 appearances was one goal involvement every 6.50 games.

Steven Davis secures his 30th win in a Villa shirt on his 97th appearance (80 Starts) to make it W30 D31 L36, 9 Goals, 5 Assists and 3 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Gabriel Agbonlahor secures his 10th win and 11th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 37th appearance (31 Starts) to make it W10 D13 L14, 7 Goals, 4 Assists and 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Wilfred Bouma secures his 10th win in a Villa shirt on his 36th appearance (33 Starts) to make it W10 D10 L16 and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Olof Mellberg collects his 25th booking in a Villa shirt on his 212th appearance to make it W70 D61 L81, 6 Goals, 6 Assists and 25 Bookings at a rate of a card every 8 games so far in his Villa career.

Villa suffer a narrow defeat to make it six defeats in eight Premier League games under Martin O'Neill as the squad sees exciting new arrivals in Ashley Young and John Carew.

A debut goal from Ashley Young and a fine bow from fellow new boy John Carew are not enough to stop Villa falling to defeat as Villa are made painfully aware of what they missed out on with Newcastle's off season shenanigans as James Milner opens the scoring. 

Legendary Villa centre forward Juan Pablo Ángel, 31, makes his 205th and final appearance in a Villa shirt (158 Starts) ahead of his move to the New York Red Bulls in April 2007. Ángel epitomised everything the Villa faithful love in a player - dedication, triumph through adversity, more than a little skill and a strong no. 9. Ángel played for Villa between 2000-01 and 2006-07 leaving with a record of W71 D57 L77, 62 Goals, 18 Assists and 13 Bookings.

Centre forward John Carew makes his debut aged 27 after joining in the swap deal that took Milan Baroš to Olympique Lyonnais. As one Villa legend departed, another arrived - Carew would go on to be one of the greatest cult heroes in the club’s history. 

Winger Ashley Young makes his Villa debut aged 21 after joining from Watford for a fee of £11,880,000 earlier this month to become the 797th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football. Young’s signature was something of a coup for Villa and his arrival showed a new, reinvigorated impetus to drive Villa up the league with an attacking football philosophy. Young would return to Villa in 2021, now a veteran, after a stellar 10 year trophy winning career. 

For all its problems, disappointments and false dawns, the Gregory/Taylor/O'Leary/O'Neill era had now produced not one, not two, not three but seven bona fide club legends in Olof Mellberg, James Milner, Ashley Young, Martin Laursen, Stiliyan Petrov, Juan Pablo Ángel and John Carew. 

Stiliyan Petrov collects his first booking in a Villa shirt on his 23rd appearance to make it W5 D9 L9, 1 Goal, 1 Assist and 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Thomas Sørensen suffers his 50th defeat in a Villa shirt on his 145th appearance to make it W53 D42 L50, 184 Goals Conceded at a rate of 1.27 goals per game and 44 Clean Sheets (33%) so far in his Villa career.

Villa win for the second time in three Premier League games to climb back to 13th in the table under Martin O'Neill.

John Carew scores his first goal in a Villa shirt on his second appearance to make it W1 D0 L1 and 1 Goal so far in his Villa career. 

Ashley Young contributes his first assist on his second appearance in a Villa shirt to make it 1 Goal and 1 Assist so far in his Villa career. 

Liam Ridgewell, 22, makes his 93rd and final appearance in a Villa shirt aged 22 before moving on to Birmingham City for £2,700,000 in August 2007. Ridgewell, who made his Villa debut aged 18 under Graham Taylor, left with a record of W30 D27 L36, 6 Goals, 2 Assists, 11 Bookings and 1 Red Card.

Villa lose for the second time in three Premier League games but once again out-play the opposition only to be beaten as Martin O'Neill's new charges continue to bed in.

Martin O'Neill's side recover from their torrid 'keeper-less and win-less form of December 2006 to stabilise results in the new year after an excellent opening 15 games but results continued to be of a topsy turvy nature with the last 5 games delivering a run of LWLWL however the continued bedding in of Ashley Young and John Carew meant hopes were high that greater point accumulating consistency could be found to the end of the season.

Shaun Maloney, 24, makes his debut in a Villa shirt after joining from Celtic for £1,350,000 in January 2007 to become the 799th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Stiliyan Petrov makes his 25th appearance in a Villa shirt to make it W6 D9 L10, 1 Goal, 1 Assist and 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Gary Cahill makes his 25th appearance in a Villa shirt (24 Starts) to make it W6 D6 L13, 1 Goal, 1 Assist and 6 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa suffer another narrow defeat to leave them winless in three Premier League games under Martin O'Neill to leave them with two wins, two draws and four league defeats in 2007.

Gavin McCann makes his 125th appearance in a Villa shirt to make it W45 D38 L42, 5 Goals, 4 Assists, 28 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Gary Cahill makes his 25th start in a Villa shirt (27 Appearances) to make it W6 D7 L14, 1 Goal, 1 Assist and 7 Bookings at a rate of a card every 3.57 games so far in his Villa career.

Villa earn a hard fought draw against Liverpool but it could have been more but for more poor officiating in 2006-07.

Martin O'Neill's Villa build on their unlucky and narrow defeat to Arsenal with a 2nd draw in 3 games under Martin O’Neill.

Lee Mason - a referee who would pain Villa continually over the following two decades - makes his presence known as he denies Villa a nailed on spot kick to save Liverpool from defeat.

Thomas Sørensen makes his 150th appearance in a Villa shirt to make it W54 D44 L52, 188 Goals Conceded at a rate of 1.25 goals per game and 50 Clean Sheets (33%) so far in his Villa career.

Villa make it successive draws but are winless in five Premier League games, losing twice and now have just two wins in their last twenty games in all competitions under Martin O'Neill.

Villa draw for the 3rd time in 4 under Martin O’Neill as some stability returns to a side that had found it difficult to get a foothold over the last three months.

Villa now have 3 wins in their last 20 games under Martin O’Neill and fall back to 14th place. 

David O'Leary had delivered 3 wins in his last 12 Premier League games, losing 7 and drawing 2. 

Martin O'Neill had now delivered 9 losses, 8 draws and just 3 wins during Villa’s current 20 game barren run.