Saturday’s scintillating 3-0 success over Newcastle United ensured Aston Villa recorded a fifth successive Premier League victory for the first time in 25 years.
Unai Emery's side are enjoying a memorable campaign as they target the club’s highest league finish for over a decade.
The last time Villa enjoyed such an impressive sequence of five consecutive league wins was at the same time of year a quarter-of-a century ago in 1997/98.
There’s a parallel with the bigger picture, too. The current run is part of an eight-match unbeaten sequence - in 1998, Villa won nine of their last 11 league matches after John Gregory took charge in February. Ironically, the other two games ended in home defeats to Barnsley and Bolton Wanderers, both of whom were relegated!
But what about the five games which yielded maximum points? It started with a 3-1 Villa Park success against Crystal Palace, the other relegated team, on Saturday, March 14.
Ian Taylor opened the scoring in the first minute and by half-time the issue was effectively settled as Savo Milosevic netted two more goals, including a penalty. It was a result which gave Villa nine points from 12 under their new manager and dispelled any relegation fears for a team who had been looking anxiously over their shoulders when he was appointed.
There was disappointment in B6 the following Wednesday, a UEFA Cup quarter-final exit to Atletico Madrid on the away goals rule, despite a famous 2-1 win on the night.
But there was no sign of a hangover on Merseyside when Villa resumed their league campaign against Everton. Julian Joachim was on target in the 12th minute at Goodison Park, while Dwight Yorke’s two late strikes completed an emphatic 4-1 scoreline. The goal which epitomised the team’s confidence, though, was crafted by the two full-backs, Alan Wright’s deep cross from the left being volleyed home at the far-post by right-back Gary Charles.
Patience was the key to the next win, a 2-0 home success against West Ham, who were five points ahead of Villa when the game kicked off. Only 13 minutes of normal time remained when Joachim broke the deadlock by diverting Taylor’s powerful shot past keeper Bernard Lama, and six minutes later substitute Milosevic doubled the advantage.
Yorke was back in the scoring groove as Coventry City were beaten 2-1 at Highfield Road, heading Villa into the lead in the fifth minute and adding his second just after the interval with acrobatic overhead kick.
Win number five was chalked up on the south coast, a 2-1 verdict against Southampton at The Dell. Lee Hendrie’s sixth-minute shot was cancelled out by Matt Le Tissier’s equaliser but, on the hour mark, the visitors were back in front courtesy of Yorke’s delightful side-footed volley.
Although Bolton won 3-1 at Villa Park the following Saturday, Gregory’s boys signed off by beating Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 at Hillsborough and Arsenal 1-0 in a final match settled by Yorke’s cheeky-chip penalty, which even brought a wry smile from Gunners keeper David Seaman.
That secured a seventh-placed finish in the final table and a place in the then UEFA Cup, while Villa went on to start Gregory’s first full season by remaining unbeaten in their opening 12 matches – a club record.