I mean it had been a bad season pretty much from the first kick in August but Villa still had room to go lower and their match at Turf Moor appeared to be the time they chose to do it. Defeat in the Charity Shield last time out may have been nothing more than morale sapping but this three nil reverse, Villa's fifth defeat in six games, was far more consequential with little sign that Eric Houghton had the tools personally or in personnel to turn this torrid season around.

Eric Houghton's Villa lose for the fourth time in five League games to make it four wins, two draws and nine defeats in fifteen division one games this season.