Villa once again overturn a two goal deficit to qualify for the Intertoto semi final.

Paul Merson, 34, makes his 144th and final appearance in a Villa shirt (125 Starts). Merson, a player with ability and influence far beyond the rest of the squad, who even as a cameo substitute could deliver a power of good to the team, was discarded. As a result in one move the team was robbed of much needed creativity. Merson would join Portsmouth on a free transfer the following month as Graham Taylor prematurely called time on a player considered to be one of the most talented and charismatic to have pulled on the claret and blue of Villa. Merson left with a record of W54 D46 L44, 19 Goals, 23 Assists, 7 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.43 games across his Villa career.

In sum then, this also ran Intertoto game, had implications far beyond the result on the pitch and signalled the huge challenges ahead for Villa.

Forward Stefan Moore, 18, makes his competitive debut in a Villa shirt after coming through the ranks of youth football to become the 760th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Swedish international forward Marcus Allbäck, 29, makes a goalscoring Villa debut after joining from SC Heerenveen for a fee of £2,700,000 earlier this month to become the 761st player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Forward Michael Boulding, 27, scores on his home debut on what is his second and final appearance in a Villa shirt 6 days after his debut and despite only having arrived at the club 26 days earlier. Boulding who had 23 goals in 113 appearances across 3 seasons in the lower leagues of English football was a curiosity, an ex-tennis player who Graham Taylor immediately promoted to first team football and who clearly was not of sufficient calibre to cut it in the top flight despite his scrambled goal in the win over Zürich. Boulding would remain at the club until the new year without making any further squad appearances and on his departure from Villa he would return to plying his football trade in tiers 2 and mostly 3. 11 years later, Jordan Bowery would make a similar transition from the lower leagues into Premier League football under Paul Lambert but this time would be afforded a full season before once again time was called on the unlikely step up.

Peter Crouch contributes his 5th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 9th appearance to make it W3 D2 L4, 2 Goals and 3 Assists at a goal involvement rate of one for every 1.80 games played so far in his Villa career.

Mark Delaney makes his 100th appearance in a Villa shirt (84 Starts) to make it W38 D31 L31, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 13 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Olof Mellberg secures his 10th win in a Villa shirt on his 37th appearance to make it W10 D14 L13, 1 Assist and 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Villa suffer a shock outright defeat at home to Lille in the Intertoto Cup to render their away goal useless and end any European hopes before the season began.as question marks are already raised about the wisdom of keeping veteran boss Graham Taylor on for a second season.

Villa win for the second time in five Premier League games as Graham Taylor makes five changes in an attempt to inject life into Villa's poor start. 

Villa secure only their 5th win in 18 Premier League games under Graham Taylor but make it back to back victories at Villa Park. 

Villa score more than a single goal in a game for the first time this season.

Centre back Ronny Johnsen, 33, makes his debut in a Villa shirt after moving from Manchester United on a free transfer in July 2002 to become the 765th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Ulises de la Cruz surprises as he scores his 1st goal in a Villa shirt on only his 4th appearance (3 Starts) to make it W1 D0 L3 and 1 Goal so far in his Villa career.

Stefan Moore scores his 1st goal in a Villa shirt on his 3rd appearance (0 Starts) to make it W2 D0 L1, 1 Goal and 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Jlloyd Samuel makes his 50th appearance in a Villa shirt (31 Starts) to make it W16 D15 L19, 3 Assists, 7 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Alpay Özalan plays for the first time in a month after Graham Taylor has all but overlooked the Turkey international so far in 2002-03. Özalan secures his 25th win in a Villa shirt on his 62nd appearance to make it W25 D18 L19 and 16 Bookings.

Villa recover from their St Andrew's embarrassment to beat Everton and record their third win in seven Premier League games under Graham Taylor.

Villa win just their 6th League game in 20 under Graham Taylor (losing 10) but make it 3 successive home wins to climb to 10th in the early table.

Öyvind Leonhardsen, 32, makes his debut in a Villa shirt after signing on a free transfer from Tottenham Hotspur in July despite Graham Taylor believing the player had already retired. The latest leftfield, underwhelming and questionable Taylor signing becomes the 766th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Darius Vassell contributes his 30th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 109th appearance (48 Starts) to make it W40 D27 L42, 22 Goals, 8 Assists, 11 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.63 games played so far in his Villa career.

Lee Hendrie secures his 80th win in a Villa shirt on his 193rd appearance (148 Starts) to make it W80 D51 L62, 22 Goals, 17 Assists, 32 Bookings and 3 Red Cards at a goal involvement rate of one for every 5.03 games he has played so far in his Villa career.

Villa seek respite from their League troubles as they see off Second Division side Luton Town to reach the League Cup third round.

Darius Vassell makes his 50th start in a Villa shirt (111 Appearances) to make it W41 D27 L43, 22 Goals, 8 Assists, 11 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.70 games played so far in his Villa career.

Lee Hendrie makes his 150th start in a Villa shirt (195 Appearances) to make it W81 D51 L63, 22 Goals, 18 Assists, 33 Bookings and 3 Red Cards at a goal involvement rate of one for every 5 games he has played so far in his Villa career.

Marcus Allbäck makes his 10th appearance in a Villa shirt (5 Starts) to make it W4 D1 L5 and 1 Goals at a goal involvement rate of one for every 10.00 games played so far in his Villa career.

Villa lose for the 6th time in 10 Premier League games under Graham Taylor to fall to 15th in the table.

Villa fail to score for the 7th time in 10 Premier League games under Graham Taylor.

Villa lose for the 12 time in 23 League games under Graham Taylor. 

Villa have now won 6 in 23 League games under Graham Taylor. 

Villa’s latest defeat under Graham Taylor comes against a Southampton side who had not won away from home since March 2002.

Olof Mellberg makes his 50th appearance in a Villa shirt to make it W14 D16 L20, 3 Assists and 3 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Ulises de la Cruz makes his 10th appearance in a Villa shirt (8 Starts) to make it W3 D1 L6 and 2 Goals so far in his Villa career.

Mark Kinsella toils to his 10th appearance in a Villa shirt to make it W4 D1 L5, 0 Goals, 0 Assists and 0 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Alpay Özalan features for the first time in over a month and for only the 4th time under Graham Taylor to make it 64 appearances in a Villa shirt, W25 D18 L21 and 17 Bookings.

Villa put in their best performance of the season, unrecognisable from recent fare, but are held at the last at Old Trafford to leave them with just three wins in eleven Premier League games under Graham Taylor.

Villa score for the 1st time in 3 games under Graham Taylor.

Villa now have 6 Premier League wins in 24 under Graham Taylor.

Olof Mellberg scores his 1st goal in a Villa shirt on his 51st appearance to make it W14 D17 L20, 1 Goal, 3 Assists and 3 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Mark Kinsella contributes his 1st assist in a Villa shirt on his 11th appearance to make it W4 D2 L5, 0 Goals, 1 Assist and 0 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Stefan Moore makes his 1st start in a Villa shirt on his 7th appearance to make it W4 D1 L2, 1 Goal and 2 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Villa record their 3rd draw in 5 winless games to make it just 3 wins in 12 Premier League games under Graham Taylor.

Villa fail to score for the 8th time in 12 games under Graham Taylor.

Villa now have 6 wins in 25 Premier League games under Graham Taylor.

Peter Enckelman keeps his 10th Premier League clean sheet on his 44th appearance (31 League Games) to make it W15 D13 L6, 40 Goals Conceded at a rate of 0.91 goals per game and 16 Clean Sheets (36%) (32% League) so far in his Villa career.

Villa seek respite from their League troubles under Graham Taylor but still need a late cavalry charge to see off Third Division Oxford as things turn nasty off the pitch.

Ian Taylor collects his 50th booking in a Villa shirt on his 278th appearance (246 Starts) to make it W116 D75 L87, 42 Goals, 16 Bookings and 2 Red Cards at a rate of a card every 5.35 games so far in his Villa career.

Stefan Postma keeps his 1st clean sheet in a Villa shirt on his 3rd appearance to make it W1 D1 L1, 2 Goals Conceded at a rate of 0.67 goals per game and 1 Clean Sheet (33%) so far in his Villa career.

Dion Dublin secures his 50th win in a Villa shirt on his 137th appearance (111 Starts) to make it W50 D41 L46, 45 Goals, 15 Assists, 11 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 2.28 games played so far in his Villa career.

Mark Delaney secures his 40th win in a Villa shirt on his 110th appearance (94 Starts) to make it W40 D34 L36, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 13 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Juan Pablo Ángel secures his 20th win in a Villa shirt on his 54th appearance (43 Starts) to make it W20 D14 L20, 17 Goals, 6 Assists and 6 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 2.35 games he has played so far in his Villa career.

Villa make it three Premier League games unbeaten but are held at Anfield to make it eight wins in twenty three Premier League games under Graham Taylor as they climb to 13th in the table.

Alan Wright makes his 325th appearance in a Villa shirt (320 Starts) to make it W140 D86 L99, 5 Goals, 26 Assists and 23 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Dion Dublin makes his 125th start in a Villa shirt (151 Appearances) to make it W56 D43 L52, 51 Goals, 17 Assists, 14 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 2.20 games played so far in his Villa career.

Darius Vassell makes his 125th appearance in a Villa shirt (61 Starts) to make it W45 D30 L50, 28 Goals, 9 Assists, 12 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.38 games played so far in his Villa career.

Stefan Moore makes his 10th appearance in a Villa shirt (2 Starts) to make it W5 D3 L2, 1 Goal and 2 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Villa lose for the first time in four games and have now failed to score in 12 of their last 24 Premier League matches. 

Graham Taylor now has a record of 17 defeats in 37 Premier League games since returning to Villa.

Villa record their biggest win of the season, winning for the 1st time in 3 games under Graham Taylor. 

Villa make it 12 Premier League wins in 38 matches under Graham Taylor.

Joey Guðjónsson, 22, makes a goalscoring debut after joining from Real Betis on loan for the remainder of the season earlier this month to become the 769th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.

Darius Vassell scores a brace to collect his 30th goal in a Villa shirt on his 127th appearance (62 Starts) to make it W46 D30 L51, 30 Goals, 9 Assists, 12 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.26 games played so far in his Villa career.

Thomas Hitzlsperger contributes his 10th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 35th appearance (30 Starts) to make it W12 D7 L16, 5 Goals, 5 Assists and 4 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Olof Mellberg secures his 20th win in a Villa shirt on his 67th appearance to make it W20 D20 L27, 1 Goal, 3 Assists and 3 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Jlloyd Samuel makes his 75th appearance in a Villa shirt (56 Starts) to make it W26 D20 L29, 5 Assists, 9 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Less than a month after being humiliated by the same opposition at home, Villa, apparently rejuvenated, put Blackburn to the sword to record successive victories and climb to 11th in the table under Graham Taylor.

Villa make it 10 wins in 26 Premier League games under Graham Taylor

Joey Guðjónsson contributes his 1st assist in a Villa shirt on his 2nd appearance to make it W2 D0 L0, 1 Goal, 1 Assist and 1 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Ulises de la Cruz contributes his 5th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 21st appearance (13 Starts) to make it W7 D2 L12, 2 Goals, 3 Assists and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa lose for the second time in four games to make it ten wins in twenty seven Premier League games under Graham Taylor.

Villa lose for the 3rd successive game having failed to score in 14 of 29 league matches under Graham Taylor 

Villa are beaten for the 20th time.in 42 Premier League games under Graham Taylor.

The once venerated manager is no longer the subject of deference as his defeatist, dismissive and self absorbed response to defeat exacerbates the chasm that this most torrid of seasons had begun to create.

Villa lose home and away to Birmingham for the first time since 1978.

Dion Dublin is sent off for the 2nd time in a Villa shirt on his 156th appearance (130 Starts) to make it W58 D43 L55, 54 Goals, 18 Assists, 15 Bookings and 2 Red Cards at a goal involvement 

Joey Guðjónsson is sent off for the 1st time in a Villa shirt on his 5 appearance to make it W2 D0 L3, 1 Goal, 1 Assist, 4 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a rate of a card every game he has played so far in his Villa career.

Villa stop a run of four consecutive defeats to draw with Southampton but now have just 13 wins in 44 Premier League games under Graham Taylor. 

Without a goal in 18 games, Peter Crouch makes his 25th appearance in a Villa shirt (18 Starts) to make it W6 D6 L13, 2 Goals, 4 Assists and 1 Booking at a goal involvement rate of one for every 4.17 games played so far in his Villa career as life under the struggling Graham Taylor proves more difficult than most for Crouch. This would prove to be Crouch's final appearance under Taylor with the player having to wait 4 months and for the arrival of David O'Leary before he would pull on a Villa shirt again.

At a time when Villa desperately needed quality, experience and leadership, left back Alan Wright, 31, makes his 329th and final appearance in a Villa shirt before being the latest player to move to Middlesbrough, this time on a free transfer in June 2003. An unsung hero of Villa, Wright had spent 9 seasons at the club and left with a record of W140 D87 L102, 5 Goals, 26 Assists and 24 Bookings.

Darius Vassell contributes his 40th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 133rd appearance (68 Starts) to make it W47 D31 L55, 31 Goals, 9 Assists, 12 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.33 games played so far in his Villa career.

The truly woeful Graham Taylor reign comes to an end as Villa lose on the final day to leave them with twelve wins in thirty eight Premier League games and a 16th placed finish - their lowest since 1994-95. 

In truth it was an impossible task to expect a great man, wedded in a certain footballing ideal, to adjust to the modern footballing world.

Sadly the laziness, or incompetence, of the Villa board allowed the pain to continue far beyond its clear failure. 

With just 15 wins in 51 Premier League fixtures and 23 defeats, the football had not only been woeful but the results damaging. 

The inherited squad, ageing but occasionally still effervescent, was a shadow of itself within months, and but for the emergence of young prospects there was little to cheer. 

The unfathomable ostracism of players, not least Juan Pablo Ángel and Peter Crouch, robbed the squad of talent, and the bizarre recruitment policy burdened the team with players simply not up to the rigours and standards of Premier League football. 

Without question the worst season in over 25 years for Villa, the venerated Graham Taylor left with most people wishing to forget 2002-03 happened and with a desire to simply focus on that day at Goodison Park in May 1990. 

Midfielder and Villa great Ian Taylor, 34, makes his final appearance in a Villa shirt after 9 seasons with the club before moving on to Derby County on a free transfer in June 2003. Taylor was underused by his namesake in the final season of his Villa career despite a record of W120 D79 L92, 42 Goals, 17 Assists, 54 Bookings and 2 Red Cards between 1994-95 and 2002-03. Despite his age Taylor could still do a job for the club, like Merson, Stone, Kachloul, Wright and co. before him but Graham Taylor thought otherwise.

Midfielder Joey Guðjónsson, 22, makes his 11th and final appearance in a Villa shirt of his loan spell from Real Betis. Guðjónsson had brought ill-disciplined passion to Villa and proved both entertaining and flawed. In a better environment, surrounded by stronger team-mates and a more progressive manager, those raw characteristics may have been harnessed to create a good player however that wasn’t Villa in 2002-03 under Graham Taylor. Guðjónsson left with a record of W4 D2 L5, 2 Goals, 2 Assists, 4 Bookings and 1 Red Card at a rate of a card for every 2.20 games he played.

Midfielder Stephen Cooke, 20, makes his 4th and final appearance in a Villa shirt (0 Starts) before moving on to Bournemouth on a free transfer in July 2005. Cooke made his debut in 2000 and waited nearly 3 years for his second appearance before his final outing 3 months later to leave with a record of W1 D0 L3.

Peter Whittingham makes his 1st start in a Villa shirt on his 4th appearance to make it W1 D1 L2 so far in his Villa career.

Stefan Postma concedes his 10th goal in a Villa shirt on his 9th appearance (8 Starts) to make it W3 D2 L4, 12 Goals Conceded at a rate of 1.33 goals per game and 3 Clean Sheets (33%) so far in his Villa career.

Marcus Allbäck makes his 25th appearance in a Villa shirt (12 Starts) to make it W10 D6 L9, 6 Goals, 1 Assist and 2 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 3.57 games played so far in his Villa career.

Villa face Wycombe Wanderers for the first time in competitive football, Wycombe become the 150th team that the Villa first team has played in League or Cup football.

Villa cruise through to the third round of the League Cup thanks to a hat-trick from Juan Pablo Ángel.

Gavin McCann contributes his 1st assist in a Villa shirt on his 6th appearance to make it W3 D1 L2, 1 Assist and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Liam Ridgewell makes his 2nd appearance in a Villa shirt (0 Starts) 8 months after his debut under Graham Taylor to make it W1 D0 L1 so far in his Villa career.

Jlloyd Samuel makes his 75th start in a Villa shirt (95 Appearances) to make it W32 D25 L38, 1 Goal, 5 Assists, 9 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Peter Whittingham scores his 1st goal in a Villa shirt on his 11th appearance (8 Starts) to make it W4 D2 L5, 1 Goal, 3 Assists and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Ulises de la Cruz secures his 10th win in a Villa shirt on his 29th appearance (18 Starts) to make it W10 D4 L15, 2 Goals, 4 Assists and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Villa record their 4th successive draw and now without a League win in 5 under David O’Leary to sit 13th in the table.

Villa now have two top flight wins in eleven under David O'Leary.

Gavin McCann is sent off for the 1st time in a Villa shirt on his 12th appearance to make it W4 D5 L3, 1 Assist, 4 Bookings and 1 Red Cards at a rate of a card every 2.20 games so far in his Villa career.

Dion Dublin contributes his 75th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 169th appearance (136 Starts) to make it W62 D47 L60, 56 Goals, 19 Assists, 15 Bookings and 2 Red Cards at a goal involvement rate of one for every 2.25 games played so far in his Villa career.

Villa's concerning form under David O'Leary continues as they lose for the second successive game with just two wins in thirteen.

Villa's season descends further into the mire as they extend their winless run to 7 games under David O'Leary.

Villa fall to 18th, in the relegation places, and in real danger of outdoing even the torrid 2002-03 campaign. 

Villa were desperately in need of inspiration but there was simply no-one of that calibre available in a largely workmanlike squad if talisman Juan Pablo Ángel was not firing.

Peter Whittingham contributes his 5th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 19th appearance (15 Starts) to make it W5 D6 L8, 1 Goal, 4 Assists and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Marcus Allbäck scores his 1st goal in 10 games, his 1st goal under David O’Leary and his 7th goal in a Villa shirt on his 34th appearance (18 Starts) to make it W13 D8 L13, 7 Goals, 1 Assist and 2 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 4.25 games played so far in his Villa career.

Villa win for the first time in eight and third time in fourteen Premier League games under David O'Leary as the deeply unpopular Chairman is left in no uncertain terms as to his pariah status amongst the majority of fans.

Dion Dublin scores the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time to lift Villa out of the relegation places into 17th.

Juan Pablo Ángel secures his 30th win in a Villa shirt on his 62nd start (79 Appearances) to make it W30 D19 L30, 27 Goals, 8 Assists and 7 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 1.77 starts so far in his Villa career.

Villa beat First Division Palace to reach the League Cup Quarter Finals for the second successive season.

Gavin McCann scores his 1st goal in a Villa shirt on his 15th appearance to make it W6 D5 L4, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 4 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Stefan Moore secures his 10th win in a Villa shirt on his 22nd appearance (9 Starts) to make it W10 D5 L7, 1 Goals and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Juan Pablo Ángel inspires Villa once again to deliver a 5th consecutive home win under David O’Leary and a secure a place in the League Cup semi finals for the first time since 2000.

Juan Pablo Ángel contributes his 40th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 66th start (83 Appearances) to make it W33 D19 L31, 31 Goals, 9 Assists and 7 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 1.65 starts so far in his Villa career.

Peter Crouch comes off the bench to play his first game in 4 months under David O’Leary to make it 27 appearances (18 Starts), W7 D6 L14, 2 Goals, 4 Assists and 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Villa’s transformed pre-Christmas form under David O’Leary extends to 5 wins in 6 games including 3 Premier League

Villa record their first away win of the season, their first under David O’Leary and their first since January 2003. 

Juan Pablo Ángel once again proves to be the catalyst in helping Villa climb to 14th place in the table.

Mark Delaney secures his 50th win in a Villa shirt on his 134th appearance (118 Starts) to make it W50 D40 L44, 1 Goal, 4 Assists, 18 Bookings and 2 Red Cards so far in his Villa career.

Olof Mellberg secures his 30th win in a Villa shirt on his 96th appearance to make it W30 D28 L38, 1 Goal, 3 Assists and 5 Booking so far in his Villa career.

Villa can only draw at struggling Leeds but are now unbeaten in four under David O’Leary and rise to 12th in the table - their highest position in three months.

Peter Whittingham makes his 25th appearance in a Villa shirt (20 Starts) to make it W9 D7 L9, 1 Goal, 4 Assists and 3 Bookings so far in his Villa career.

Stefan Moore makes his 25th appearance in a Villa shirt (11 Starts) to make it W12 D6 L7, 2 Goals and 2 Booking so far in his Villa career.