Villa and Newcastle are forced to play their second game in command a day before the regular season fixtures as the intrasigence and incompetence of the League is laid bare.

Unsurprisingly amidst a run of 5 games in 8 days - entirely at the whim of the League both Newcastle and Villa have been significantly disadvantaged.

The honours go to Newcastle following their defeat at Villa three days previously.

Villa are selected to play away from home on New Years Day for the 16th time in the 17 fixtures they have played on 1st January.

Villa had played their first New Years Day fixture in January 1891 and have now played just one home game on 1st January in 41 years.

Villa lose for the 13th time in 17 New Years Day fixtures

Joe Beresford scores his fourth in as many games but Villa are beaten at St James'.

Villa make it four clean sheets in 22 games so far in 1931-32

Villa make it eleven wins, four draws and seven defeats in twenty two division one games this season.

Villa tumble back to joint 5th but still have a game in hand on some around them including Albion and Sheffield United.

Up next for Villa are struggling Leicester City at Filbert Street.