Villa record successive Premier League victories under John Gregory to climb to 5th in the table.

After suffering last minute heart break on a number of times this season already, Villa see their luck reversed as Paul Merson hits a spectacular long range winner on 90’. 

Forward Gilles De Bilde, 29, makes his debut in a Villa shirt after joining from Sheffield Wednesday on loan in October 2000 to become the 749th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Villa win for the first time in six after four consecutive draws as they beat Leeds to move back up to 7th in the Premier League under John Gregory.

In a season where late goals have proved a prominent feature in Villa's games, another last minute goal, itself following an 88' winner, is not enough to stop Villa recording their first win in 6.

Darius Vassell secures his 20th win in a Villa shirt on his 39th appearance (37 Starts) but is now without a goal in 36 appearances to make it W20 D5 L14, 2 Goals, 4 Assists and 4 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 6.50 games played so far in his Villa career.

Another game, another late goal, this time at Villa's expense and in runaway leaders Manchester United's favour.

Villa lose for the first time in six games under John Gregory to fall back to ninth in the Premier League table.

David James gifts the points to Chelsea to leave Villa with Boxing Day and New Year defeats as they tumble back to eleventh in the Premier League table.

David James makes another mistake against Chelsea and Villa have now lost their last three games against the West London side.

Left back Steve Staunton makes his first appearance in a Villa shirt following his return from Liverpool on a free transfer. Staunton, the 670th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football, had left in 1998 with a record of 261 Appearances (253 Starts), W112 D70 L79, 19 Goals, 30 Assists, 16 Bookings and 1 Red Card having run down his contract to secure a lucrative transfer away.

Forward Gilles De Bilde, 29, makes his 4th final appearance in a Villa shirt before returning to Sheffield Wednesday after his 3 month loan ended. De Bilde left with a record of W2 D0 L2, 0 Goals and 0 Assists.

Midfielder John McGrath, 20, makes his debut in a Villa shirt after signing professional forms with the club in August 1999 having joined the youth set up from Belvedere FC to become the 750th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.