Villa can only draw their game in hand over leaders Cardiff and only reduce the gap to two points. 

Lincoln suffer outrageous fortune in injuring Nigel Sims just before half time, leaving him incapacitated for the entire second period before lucking into a goal having survived a storm of Villa chances both before and after their strike.

Joe Mercer's Villa drop points at home for the second successive game as Lincoln have now held Villa home and away to make it nineteen wins, eight draws and five defeats, four away, in thirty two division two games. 

Meanwhile, centre forward Brian Handley made his Villa debut aged 23 after moving from Goole Town in September 1958.