Villa, shorn of their undoubted star of the season - Harry Burrows - and their 'keeper, fall to defeat at Craven Cottage. Villa, 7th, face another 6 day break before they face Blackpool but that match at Bloomfield Road presages an absolutely unbelievably condensed fixture list. 

Villa are due to play on:

Friday, 29 March 1963

Monday, 1 April 1963

Saturday, 6 April 1963

Tuesday, 9 April 1963

Saturday, 13 April 1963

Monday, 15 April 1963

Tuesday, 16 April 1963

Saturday, 20 April 1963

Monday, 22 April 1963

It is now clear to all that the relatively empty fixture list in March was a serious error of judgement by the FA with Villa likely to still be completing their games in late May. Meanwhile teams above them in the table have played up to three games more than Joe Mercer's side in a more balanced spread of fixtures.

Joe Mercer's Villa play with the usual seven day separation between League outings for the first time since the 15th December as their wildly interrupted season promises major fixture list congestion in the final two months of the season. Villa fail to score for the fourth time in the last seven and had now lost three in the last six having lost just twice in the previous nineteen games. As a result Villa make it twelve wins, seven draws and eight defeats in twenty seven division one games so far this season as a campaign of such promise begins to falter under the difficult scheduling. Meanwhile, 23 year old goalkeeper John Gavan made his Villa debut after moving from Walsall Wood in November 1962.

Despite having the best of the first half, Alan Deakin suffers a game ending injury and whilst he remained on the pitch was unable to contribute. The handicap gave Everton the filip they needed to get back in the game and Villa's effective ten men were defeated for the third successive League game to drop to 9th in the table. Surely Villa's luck had to turn soon?

Joe Mercer's Villa lose three successive games for the first time this season and do so without scoring for the first time since the 1955-56 season under Eric Houghton when they finished 20th in the top flight, just outside the relegation places. Villa’s latest fixture is their second in four days as their wildly interrupted season delivered the inevitable fixture list congestion in the final two months of the season. As a result of Villa’s failure to score for the sixth time in the last nine they make it twelve wins, seven draws and ten defeats in twenty nine division one games so far this season as a campaign of such promise before the fixture interruption continues to falter.

Villa visit their bogey ground Turf Moor and suffer a fourth consecutive defeat. In truth this was the first of the quartet that was a cause for real concern. Without their 'keeper, flair and goalscorer in Sidebottom, Woosnam and Burrows, Villa simply didn't compete as they fall to 11th in the table with their next ficture in less than 72 hours time.

Joe Mercer's Villa lose four successive games for the first time since 1958-59 under Eric Houghton which led to Mercer’s appointment in December 1958. Villa’s latest fixture is their third in nine days as their wildly interrupted season delivered the inevitable fixture list congestion in the final two months of the season. Villa did however manage to score for the first time in four matches to make it twelve wins, seven draws and eleven defeats in thirty division one games so far this season as a campaign of such promise before the fixture interruption collapses further.

Villa's miserable run continues as they lose to 19th placed Manchester United after suffering another injury blighted game, this time for Derek Dougan, robbing Villa of an effective front line. Villa take the game to United throughout but simply have no cutting edge as they remain 11th following their fifth successive defeat.

Joe Mercer's Villa lose five successive games for the first time since 1958-59 under Eric Houghton which led to Mercer’s appointment in December 1958. Villa’s latest fixture is their fourth in twelve days as their wildly interrupted season delivered the inevitable fixture list congestion in the final two months of the season. As a result, Villa make it twelve wins, seven draws and twelve defeats in thirty one division one games so far this season as a campaign of such promise before the fixture interruption collapses further.

Villa win only their third league game in fifteen under Dick Taylor and unsurprisingly remain 21st in the table.

Dick Taylor's Villa end a run of four League defeats to beat Fulham at Villa Park and make it three wins, two draws and ten defeats in fifteen division one matches this season. Taylor had taken over Villa amidst a run of three League wins in seventeen and had now added his own record of three wins in fifteen.

Villa see off third division side Reading in the League Cup to progress to the fourth round.

Dick Taylor's Villa record consecutive wins as they beat division three side Reading in the League Cup fourth round.

Villa beat Fulham in the League Cup fourth round replay as Phil Woosnam hits a brace.

Dick Taylor's Villa are victorious in the League Cup replay to set up a quarter final tie with Albion.

Villa lose Alan Deakin early before a second half concession leaves them with a second home defeat of the season and remaining in 12th place.

Dick Taylor's Villa lose for the second time in three to make it seven wins, two draws and eight defeats in seventeen League fixtures this season. Meanwhile, former Villa stalwart Harry Burrows hits the killer blow for Stoke.

Villa, reduced to 10 men in both the first and second halves, can't withstand the Albion pressure as Villa's neighbours muscle into the League Cup Quarter Final's at Dick Taylor's men's expense.

Dick Taylor's Villa lose for the third time in four as they are beaten by Albion to prevent a third League Cup semi final in five seasons.

Villa suffer a third successive defeat to fall back to 14th in the table despite taking the lead at high flying Burnley through Tony Hateley.

Dick Taylor's Villa lose for the fourth time in five and the third consecutive game for the first time this season as they make it seven wins, two draws and nine defeats in eighteen League matches.

Villa's fourth successive defeat and third in the League sees them remain 14th in the table.

Dick Taylor's Villa lose for the fifth time in six and the fourth consecutive game for the first time this season as they make it seven wins, two draws and ten defeats in nineteen League matches. 

Meanwhile, winger Ray Bloomfield made his final appearance for Villa aged 21 before moving into non-League football in 1966. Ray played for Villa in 1964-65 and 1965-66 making 3 appearances.

Villa lose to Northampton - plenty of shame in that - as without a win in five they slump to 16th in the table.

Villa face Northampton Town for the first time in competitive football, Northampton become the 92nd team that the Villa first team has played in League or Cup football.

Dick Taylor's wildly inconsistent Villa lose for the eighth time in twelve games to make it twelve wins, four draws and nineteen defeats in thirty five League matches. Meanwhile, goalkeeper John Gavan made his final Villa appearance aged 26 before on moving to Doncaster Rovers in July 1967. Gavan played for Villa between 1962-63 and 1965-66 making 12 appearances.