Villa make it 28 points from their last 16 games, despite the poor pitch and uncompromising Vale, to remain top of the League as promotion rivals Bournemouth win and Notts County draw to leave the south coast side second and three points behind having played the same amount of games as Villa with the east midlanders four points back in third with two games in hand but Vic Crowe’s side boast a significantly better goal average.

Vic Crowe's Villa make it eleven wins in thirteen and twenty one wins, three draws and six defeats in division three so far this campaign. Villa (played 30, points 45) remain top of the table ahead of Bournemouth (played 30, points 42) and their next opponents Notts County (played 28, points 41). Meanwhile, centre back Ian Ross made his Villa debut aged 25 after moving from Liverpool earlier this week for a fee of £60,000.