One step forward, four steps backwards, and a humiliation at the hands of Blackburn suggests that the surprise appointment of a managerial novice to replace Joe Mercer was, as feared, a very silly idea indeed.

Dick Taylor's Villa fail to score for the first time this season and lose for the fourth time in five. As a result, Villa now have just four wins in the last thirty one matches after a torrid final twelve months under Mercer and a difficult start to life under Taylor. 

Meanwhile, Johnny MacLeod made his debut after moving from Arsenal ahead of the match having played against Villa just a week earlier.