Aston Villa supporters can reflect on a fantastic 12 months for the club and look forward to 2024 with excitement.
In our three-part review of 2023, we've already remembered January to April and reminisced about May to August as Villa sealed a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League, qualified for Europe, welcomed new signings to the club, embarked on a pre-season tour of the USA and more.
Join us for part III of our review of the year as we look back upon September to December for the men's first team, concluding with our enthralling 3-2 victory over Burnley...
SEPTEMBER
After suffering a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, Villa bounce back by staging a late revival to overcome Crystal Palace at Villa Park. Trailing to an Odsonne Edouard goal just after half-time, Unai Emery’s men draw level through Jhon Durán on 87 minutes before Douglas Luiz and Leon Bailey add further goals in stoppage time.
Ezri Konsa, now in his fifth season at Villa Park, signs a new long-term contract.
Ollie Watkins scores his first league goal of the season, an angled drive, to clinch a 1-0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. And he follows up with a hat-trick in a 6-1 demolition of Brighton & Hove Albion. Jacob Ramsey and Luiz are also on target against the Seagulls, whose misery is compounded by an own goal by Pervis Estupinan.
In the UEFA Europa Conference League, Villa lose 3-2 away to Legia Warszawa in their opening Group E game after twice drawing level with goals from Durán and Lucas Digne.
Boubacar Kamara’s first Villa goal is the only consolation in a 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat at home to Everton.
OCTOBER
Villa and England striker Watkins signs a new long-term contract with the club.
Pau Torres scores his first goal for Villa to earn a 1-1 draw against Wolves at Molineux, a result which means Unai Emery's side go into the international break in fifth place.
Luiz is on target twice, including a penalty, in a 4-1 home win against West Ham United. Watkins and substitute Bailey also find the net.
Villa follow it up with a 12th consecutive Premier League home win, beating Luton Town 3-1 with goals from John McGinn and Moussa Diaby, plus an own goal.
In the Europa Conference League, McGinn’s header in the fourth minute of stoppage time clinches a dramatic 1-0 win at home to HŠK Zrinjski. The skipper is also on target in a 4-1 success away to AZ Alkmaar, where Bailey, Youri Tielemans and Watkins score the other goals.
NOVEMBER
After being unbeaten in six Premier League matches, Emery’s side suffer a 2-0 setback at Nottingham Forest but bounce back by beating Fulham 3-1 at Villa Park. After going ahead via an own goal, Villa add further goals through McGinn and Watkins. The result equals a post-war club record of 13 consecutive top-flight home wins.
After trailing at Tottenham Hotspur, Villa hit back to win 2-1 with goals from Torres and Watkins to move into the top four of the Premier League.
Second-half headers from Diego Carlos, his first Villa goal, and Watkins clinch a 2-1 home win over AZ Alkmaar in the Europa Conference League. The club pay tribute to record appearance holder Charlie Aitken after his passing.
Victory by the same scoreline against Legia Warszawa, courtesy of goals from Diaby and Álex Moreno, his first in claret and blue, take Villa to the top of Group E.
DECEMBER
Despite trailing twice at AFC Bournemouth, Villa salvage a point from a 2-2 draw thanks to goals from Bailey and Watkins.
An outstanding performance is rewarded by a 1-0 win over champions Manchester City as Villa equal a club record of 14 consecutive home league wins – and the record is broken against Arsenal three days later. McGinn’s seventh-minute goal, which completes a flowing 10-man move, is enough to inflict a 1-0 defeat on the Gunners.
After trailing at the interval, second-half goals from Moreno and Watkins ensure a 2-1 success at Brentford – with Emery's side setting a club record of 25 top-flight victories in a calendar year.
In the Europa Conference League, a 1-1 draw away to HŠK Zrinjski is enough to secure top spot in Group E and a direct passage to the Round of 16. Nicolò Zaniolo is the man on target in Mostar, his first goal for the club, while 'keeper Filip Marschall and sub Tommi O’Reilly both make their debuts.
A 1-1 draw against Sheffield United means Villa miss the chance to go top of the table, Zaniolo’s late header rescuing a point.
There’s frustration at Old Trafford on Boxing Day. Despite leading 2-0 at half-time through McGinn’s free-kick and Leander Dendoncker’s first goal for the club, Villa slip to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Manchester United.
Emery's side round off 2023 with a dramatic 3-2 win over Burnley, Luiz netting an 89th-minute penalty after goals from Bailey and Diaby.
Victory ensures high-flying Villa extend their unbeaten home run in the Premier League to 17 matches and make it an incredible 85 points this calendar year, registering another club record in the process as they make it 32 wins in all competitions in the last 12 months.
Happy new year from everyone at Aston Villa!
