Villa suffer a shock defeat - and rare one at that too - to mid-table Manchester United, a side fresh from putting seven past Chesterfield. 

To the surprise of nobody the performance of the referee - Barton from Repton - left plenty to be desired. Allowing United to play on despite a clear offside and nearly claiming a goal from a one on one situation of the official's own creation, before allowing United a second goal despite it being demonstrably offside.

That the official would not even listen to the protests - he ignored them and ran for the centre - made matters even more concerning.

It's Villa's first defeat in six and they're now winless in four after a Fred Biddlestone error hands the hosts a lead before incessant Villa pressure ends in the homesters getting a second goal against the run of play just before half time.

They make sure of the win as Biddlestone errs again in the second half before Bob Iverson finally gets a goal that Villa's play deserved.

Villa though never stopped pressing and the difference was simple, a poor referee, a poor game from the 'keeper and poor finishing.

Amazingly though Coventry lose too as the two sides continue to mirror each other's results but Villa drop to third as Sheffield United win to go level with the leaders two ahead of Villa and Chesterfield.

Up next - new joint leaders Sheffield United.