A single goal is enough to see off Blackburn and earn Villa a long awaited League win.

Joe Mercer’s Villa score a League goal and win for the first time in six to make it ten wins, six draws and eleven defeats in twenty seven Division One games this season. 

Meanwhile, Tommy Ewing made his Villa debut aged 24 after joining from Patrick Thistle earlier this month.

Villa's inability to turn dominant possession into goals strikes again to leave them pointless from Hillsborough.

Joe Mercer’s Villa lose their six game unbeaten run as they lose heavily to Wednesday to make it twelve wins, seven draws and twelve defeats in thirty one Division One games this season.

With five injured in the Albion match, Joe Mercer rings the changes and Villa run rings around neighbours Birmingham to climb to 7th in the table.

Joe Mercer’s Villa extend their League winning form to five in the last seven as they win successive games against near neighbours to make it fourteen wins, seven draws and twelve defeats in thirty three Division One games this season. 

Meanwhile, centre back Jimmy Dugdale made his final Villa appearance aged 30 before moving on to Queens Park Rangers in October 1962. Dugdale played for Villa between 1955-56 and 1961-62 making 255 appearances and scoring 3 goals; winning the 1956-57 FA Cup and 1960-61 League Cup with Villa. 

As Dugdale left, a new player arrived, as full back Wilson Briggs made his Villa debut aged 19 after moving from Musselburgh Windsor in August 1959.

Possession without penetration costs Villa again as high-flying Burnley swoop on Villa Park and do just enough to take both points.

Joe Mercer’s Villa lose for the second time in eight League games to make it fourteen wins, seven draws and thirteen defeats in thirty four Division One games this season. 

Meanwhile, forward Jimmy McMorran made his final appearance for Villa aged 19 before moving on to Third Lanark in February 1963. McMorran played for Villa in 1960-61 and 1961-62 making 14 appearances, scoring once.

Villa win a thriller at Arsenal by the odd goal in 9. Villa take the lead, find themselves 2-4 down before two minutes from time scoring the winner to take the game 5-4.

Joe Mercer’s Villa extend their League winning form to six in the last nine as they win a thriller against Arsenal, scoring five goals away from home to make it fifteen wins, seven draws and thirteen defeats in thirty five Division One games this season.

Villa, Tommy Ewing and Derek Dougan continue their late season form to beat Bolton and climb to 6th in the table. Meanwhile, referee Ken Aston gets over-excited and books three for one incident.

Joe Mercer’s Villa extend their League winning form to seven in the last ten as they make it successive wins, scoring eight goals, to record sixteen wins, seven draws and thirteen defeats in thirty six Division One games this season.

Villa are narrowly beaten at Maine Road as for the second game in succession the referee seems to over-react to an unremarkable incident.

Joe Mercer’s Villa lose for the third time in eleven League games to record sixteen wins, seven draws and fourteen defeats in thirty seven Division One games this season.

Villa destroy Leicester at Villa Park for their biggest win since 1959 as Tommy Ewing impresses again but it's the third game in succession where the referee raises questions about their competence.

Joe Mercer’s Villa extend their League winning form to eight in the last twelve as they humiliate Leicester at Villa Park with an eight goal hammering - matching their result against the Filbert Street side in January 1932. As a result, Villa make it seventeen wins, seven draws and fourteen defeats in thirty eight Division One games this season.

Villa hit another five goals to make it 21 in five games as they climb back to 6th in the table. A moot point but just where would Villa be in the table if those goals had been shared out throughout the season where they dominated play without troubling the scoreboard.

Joe Mercer’s Villa extend their League winning form to nine in the last thirteen as they follow up their humiliation of Leicester with another resounding Villa Park win as they put five past Forest to make it thirteen goals scored in two games. As a result, Villa make it eighteen wins, seven draws and fourteen defeats in thirty nine Division One games this season as they look to end their best season yet under Joe Mercer on a high.

Already missing Derek Dougan, Alan Deakin becomes a passenger from 40'. Villa fall behind midway through the second half and pushing for an equaliser throughout are caught in the final seconds on the counter to record their second defeat in four.

Joe Mercer’s Villa face Forest on successive days and have now played three times in four days. As a result, Villa make it eighteen wins, seven draws and fifteen defeats in forty Division One games this season.

Villa are unluckily beaten once again but Ipswich aren't complaining as their fortunate victory over Joe Mercer's men clinches them their first ever League Championship, just as Tottenham had the previous season.

Joe Mercer’s Villa - in fixture congestion typical of the period as the authorities continued to struggle to fit a full League campaign and two Cup competitions in to a regular season - play their fourth game in seven days and are beaten by champions Ipswich - a side Villa had beaten 3-0 in December. As a result, Villa make it eighteen wins, seven draws and sixteen defeats in forty one Division One games this season.

Villa end the season with a run of the mill draw at home to relegated Cardiff to finish 7th in the table.

Joe Mercer’s Villa end the season without a win in three having played their fifth game in ten days. As a result, Villa make it eighteen wins, eight draws and sixteen defeats in forty two Division One games this season to finish seventh in the table in a season notable for some strong League runs under Mercer including a number of impressive wins. That Villa also won the 1960-61 League Cup that was carried over to this season due to fixture congestion underlined that a side, who Mercer had brought out of the second tier just two seasons earlier, was well and truly back on the map.

Derek Dougan follows his sending off at Forest with a three goal haul to help Villa see off third division Peterborough in the League Cup.

Joe Mercer's Villa win for the first time in three as they hammer third division Peterborough in the League Cup second round.

Villa hit Ipswich for four and could have had significantly more but the victory only moves them to 9th in the table.

Joe Mercer's Villa follow up their big League Cup win to make it ten goals scored in two games and six wins, a draw and four defeats in eleven division one games so far in 1962-63.

Villa suffer a second red card in three League games as goalscorer Harry Burrows is sent off for a scuffle. Albion are reduced to ten men too but by that point Villa, climbing to 7th in the table, already had the game won.

Joe Mercer's Villa make it three successive wins for the first time since August to make it seven wins, a draw and four defeats in twelve division one games so far in 1962-63.

Villa secure a draw at top of the table Everton thanks to an excellent defensive performance and the continued goal instinct of Harry Burrows.

Joe Mercer's Villa make it four unbeaten with a draw at Goodison to record seven wins, two draws and four defeats in thirteen division one games so far in 1962-63.

Villa cruise past second division Stoke to reach the League Cup third round.

Joe Mercer's Villa make it five unbeaten winning four as they see off second division Stoke in the third round of the League Cup.

Villa beat Orient to sit 6th in the table and the season looks like it's shaping up to be a good one. Nicely placed in the table, through to the later rounds of the League Cup and with a host of first teamers to return including top scoring centre forward Derek Dougan.

Joe Mercer's Villa go six unbeaten winning five to make it eight wins, two draws and four defeats in fourteen division one games so far in 1962-63. Meanwhile, full back John Neal made his final appearance for Villa aged 30 before moving on to Southend United in November 1962. Neal played for Villa between 1959-60 and 1962-63 making 114 appearances.

Villa suffer a surprise defeat at St Andrews' despite taking the lead twice but Birmingham score the final goal after Villa goalkeeper remains on the field concussed following the home side's second equaliser. 

Joe Mercer marks his 200th game in charge of Villa with a first defeat in seven as they lose to neighbours Birmingham to make it eight wins, two draws and five defeats in fifteen division one games so far in 1962-63.

Villa lose a second successive game to opposition they were expected to beat and even Derek Dougan's return and playing 10-men for almost 80 minutes does not help.

Joe Mercer's Villa lose for the second successive game to make it eight wins, two draws and six defeats in sixteen division one games so far in 1962-63.

Villa are forced to play on another pitch unworthy of hosting football but this time it's not ice and snow but mud and water as 1963's weather continues to play havoc. 

Despite the win Villa drop to 7th in the table as those around them have played two, three and four games more. 

Villa face their third game in four days in 48 hours - an FA Cup tie with Manchester United.

Joe Mercer's Villa, having played five games in three months play their second in just three days but they beat Orient to make it one defeat in fourteen and eleven wins, seven draws and seven defeats in twenty five division one games so far in 1962-63.

A rested Villa play on a footballing surface for the first time in half a dozen games and hammer Birmingham with ease to push their neighbours nearer to relegation. Villa have the luxury of a full seven days before their next fixture but questions are asked as two matches in thirteen days does not seem like optimising a fixture list within which Villa still have at least 18 games to play before the traditional end of the season in April - just 6 weeks away. Villa then are likely to need to play at least three games per week until the end of the season, why not fit some of those in now to reduce the burden on Joe Mercer's men?

Joe Mercer's Villa, having played five games in three months play their fourth in ten days as they hammer neighbours Birmingham to make it two defeats in sixteen and twelve wins, seven draws and seven defeats in twenty six division one games so far in 1962-63.

Villa, shorn of their undoubted star of the season - Harry Burrows - and their 'keeper, fall to defeat at Craven Cottage. Villa, 7th, face another 6 day break before they face Blackpool but that match at Bloomfield Road presages an absolutely unbelievably condensed fixture list. 

Villa are due to play on:

Friday, 29 March 1963

Monday, 1 April 1963

Saturday, 6 April 1963

Tuesday, 9 April 1963

Saturday, 13 April 1963

Monday, 15 April 1963

Tuesday, 16 April 1963

Saturday, 20 April 1963

Monday, 22 April 1963

It is now clear to all that the relatively empty fixture list in March was a serious error of judgement by the FA with Villa likely to still be completing their games in late May. Meanwhile teams above them in the table have played up to three games more than Joe Mercer's side in a more balanced spread of fixtures.

Joe Mercer's Villa play with the usual seven day separation between League outings for the first time since the 15th December as their wildly interrupted season promises major fixture list congestion in the final two months of the season. Villa fail to score for the fourth time in the last seven and had now lost three in the last six having lost just twice in the previous nineteen games. As a result Villa make it twelve wins, seven draws and eight defeats in twenty seven division one games so far this season as a campaign of such promise begins to falter under the difficult scheduling. Meanwhile, 23 year old goalkeeper John Gavan made his Villa debut after moving from Walsall Wood in November 1962.

Villa, participating in one of three first division games on Friday night, are well beaten by Blackpool at Bloomfield Road after the adopt a shoot on sight policy following Villa 'keeper Geoff Sidebottom's injury in the 7th minute. Sidebottom bravely remains on the pitch and is only replaced on 85' with 19 year old defender John Sleeuwenhoek taking over goalkeeping duties. Villa face Everton on Monday with Sidebottom unlikely to be available.

Joe Mercer's Villa lose successive games for the first time since November and fail to score for the fifth time in the last eight as they are beaten at Bloomfield Road. Villa, in trying circumstances, have now lost by four goals to nil in two of their last four away League games. As a result Villa make it twelve wins, seven draws and nine defeats in twenty eight division one games so far this season as a campaign of such promise continues to falter.

The hugely belated second leg of the League Cup Semi Final is played at Villa Park at which Villa make a break from their bleak League form to draw with Sunderland and secure a place in their second League Cup final in three seasons. The success however comes as a double edge sword with Villa now needing to play nine more games to complete the season and to do so in just 26 days.

Joe Mercer's Villa seek and receive respite from their worst ever League run in the second leg of the League Cup semi final against second division Sunderland. Villa’s latest fixture is their ninth in twenty five days after their wildly interrupted season delivered the inevitable fixture list congestion in the final two months of the season. As a result, the second leg of the tie comes a full three months after the first leg at Roker Park which a then in-form Villa won 3-1 during a run of just two defeats in seventeen matches, a world away from their current form of nine defeats in nine League games. A nil-nil draw - the seventh time in twelve games that Villa had failed to score - was enough to put Villa through to a second two legged League Cup final in three seasons after they won the inaugural competition under Joe Mercer in 1960-61.

Villa return to league action and record a scarcely believeable tenth consecutive defeat. Just as Villa's luck goes they miss a late open goal to secure a draw whilst Sheffield United's winning goal comes from a 'shot' intended as a cross that deceives Geoff Sidebottom. There is no time to recover however with eight games to play in the next 23 days including the two legged League Cup final with neighbours Birmingham.

Joe Mercer's Villa lose ten successive League games for the first time in the club’s history. Villa’s latest fixture is their tenth in thirty four days after their wildly interrupted season delivered the inevitable fixture list congestion in the final two months of the season. As a result, Villa make it twelve wins, seven draws and seventeen defeats in thirty six division one games so far this season as a campaign of such promise before the fixture interruption comes completely off the rails and sets a record for failure that no-one could or would have predicted.

Villa collapse to 17th in the table as they are defeated for the eleventh consecutive League match. The game itself follows the usual pattern... Villa create chances, take none of them, the opposition do and the game is contained with ease to send Joe Mercer's men to defeat. With their next game in just 3 days coming against second from bottom Manchester City a win to stop the rot couldn't come at a more important time.

Joe Mercer's Villa lose eleven successive League games for the first time in the club’s history. Villa’s latest fixture is their eleventh in thirty seven days after their wildly interrupted season delivered the inevitable fixture list congestion in the final two months of the season. As a result, Villa make it twelve wins, seven draws and eighteen defeats in thirty seven division one games so far this season as a campaign of such promise before the fixture interruption comes completely off the rails and sets a record for failure that no-one could or would have predicted. Meanwhile, midfielder Lew Chatterley made his Villa debut after joining from school football in July 1961.

Shorn of half a team of regulars Villa are the victims of a poor refereeing decision but rescue a draw at Portman Road. Villa become the last club, alongside opponents Ipswich, to complete their League season. Villa would have a 48 hour gap between this and the first leg of the League Cup final against neighbours Birmingham. The cup final opposition by contrast had three additional days recovery time. Regardless of Villa's form, the League hadn't managed the congested fixture list at all well with some clubs facing considerably worse difficulties than others. As a case in point it was already ten days since champions Everton finished their League campaign and the three other clubs involved in the season ending FA and League Cup finals had all finished their seasons earlier than Villa.

Joe Mercer's Villa end the most remarkable of League seasons unbeaten in three having lost twelve of their previous thirteen including a worst ever League run of eleven successive losses. Villa’s final League fixture is their sixteenth in fifty four days after their wildly interrupted season delivered the inevitable fixture list congestion and required Villa to play once every three days in the final two months of the season. As a result, Villa make it fifteen wins, eight draws and nineteen defeats in forty two division one games as a campaign of such promise before the fixture interruption had come completely off the rails following a record for failure that no-one could or would have predicted. That Villa finished 15th in the table, well clear of the drop zone, simply underlined the form they had shown prior to the new year and which made the form of April and May such a shock. Villa’s season wasn’t over however as they now had a two legged final in the League Cup to look forward to against neighbours Birmingham as Villa attempted to deliver a trophy in an otherwise barren season and win the League Cup for the second time in three seasons since its inauguration.

The headlines said it all, surrender, as Villa lose a fifth consecutive game and are dumped out of the League Cup by West Ham. On the bright side however, Mick Wright, just turned 17 had another excellent game for Villa. Once again though Joe Mercer was absent from the dugout on scouting duty.

Joe Mercer's Villa fail to score for the third time in five and lose five successive matches for the first time this season and the first time since April 1963 when they lost nine on the bounce under Mercer.

Villa stop the rot with a late win over Arsenal at Villa Park but their recent form leaves them languishing in 18th.

Joe Mercer's Villa win for the first time in six and end a run of five successive losses as they win at home for only the second time this season to make it five wins, a draw and eight defeats in fourteen League games.

Villa lose once again and fall back to 19th place.

Joe Mercer's Villa fail to score for the fourth time in seven and lose for the sixth time over that period to make it five wins, a draw and nine defeats in fifteen League games. 

Meanwhile, midfielder Dave Pountney made his Villa debut after joining from Shrewsbury Town earlier this month.