It's another 7 day break between matches which is as welcome as it is confusing but Villa's form is so poor that they lose at the Hawthorns to a side that they have won three and drawn two of their last games against.

It is a third successive loss as Eric Houghton is now without a win in nine scoring just 10 goals in 12 games his season.

A poor season is very quickly becoming concerning as Villa continue their fall down the table.

Winger Colin Gibson makes his final Villa appearance before moving on to Lincoln City in January 1956. Gibson played for Villa between 1948-49 and 1955-56 making 167 appearances and scoring 26 goals.