A welcome week off does leaders Villa a world of good as they return to action with a thumping win over Chesterfield but the gap at the top of the table closes to four points as Brighton win successive matches, including their game in hand.

Vic Crowe's Villa recover from their shock loss by the coast to batter Chesterfield and make it twenty nine wins, five draws and eight defeats in 42 division three games so far this campaign. As a result, Villa (played 42, points 63) now held a four point lead at the top of the table over Brighton in second (played 42, points 59) and six over Bournemouth (played 42, points 57) in third, both of whom had now played their game in hand.