Second string Villa are dumped out of the EFL Cup at home by fellow Championship side Boro as Steve Bruce continues to cling on to this job with little sign of the spark needed to kick start the season.

One step forward two steps back under Steve Bruce with a home capitulation against Middlesbrough having failed to beat them two games previously with a full strength squad. 

Bruce’s mass change of personnel fail to spark Villa and selection confusion once again prove the hallmark of the season. 

Tommy Elphick is sent off on his 28th appearance in a Villa shirt (22 Starts) to make it W8 D9 L11, 0 Goals, 0 Assists and 6 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Midfielder Jordan Lyden makes his 8th and final appearance in a Villa shirt (3 Starts) aged 21 ahead of being released by the club in March 2019. Lyden had signed professional forms in July 2014 after coming through the youth team ranks and left with a record of W2 D1 L5, 0 Goals, 0 Assists and 0 Bookings.

Forward Ross McCormack makes his 24th and final appearance for Villa (14 Starts) aged 31 ahead of being released by the club in June 2019. McCormack had cost Villa £12,870,000 from Fulham but made just 24 appearances and scored 3 goals to leave a record of W8 D7 L9, 3 Goals, 1 Assist and 5 Bookings.

Winger Corey Blackett-Taylor makes his final appearance for Villa aged 19 before being released by the club in July 2019. Blackett-Taylor had signed professional forms in July 2016 after coming through the youth team ranks and made 2 appearances for the club.