Aston Villa

After 14 matches and three long years, Aston Villa have finally won a match when wearing their designated third kit.

The following weekend, Villa were away again, this time at [Wolves](https://theathletic.com/football/team/wolverhampton-wanderers/) and this time wearing their home colours. [Chelsea](https://theathletic.com/football/team/chelsea/) were the next side to see Villa in white in the final game of 2020 and the spirited draw was just a part of Villa’s promising campaign up to that point. [Trent Alexander-Arnold](https://theathletic.com/football/player/trent-alexander-arnold-vCmqp6XOqAVWrftz/) scored an even later winner the next time Villa’s third kit was in action, as Villa fell to a 2-1 defeat at Anfield. But three City goals in the last 14 minutes won them the league and condemned Villa to five defeats from five in their third strip that season. Arsenal, again, were the first side to face Villa in all-black. And when James Ward-Prowse found the net in the second half with a deflected effort, it felt like it would be the same old story. [West Ham](https://theathletic.com/football/team/west-ham-united/) was Villa’s next away trip and the first time they would wear their white strip. The third kit was its usual unhelpful self, with Villa hardly laying a punch in a 3-1 defeat. At this point, the only curse where Villa were concerned was that there were no fans in the stadium to celebrate their achievement. Villa took the lead twice (are you seeing the theme here?) but lost 3-2 at Selhurst Park. The positive performance at Anfield somewhat galvanised Dean Smith’s side, who went on to win two of their next four games to give themselves a chance of avoiding relegation on the final day, where they would wear their green kit again — this time away at West Ham. They were spirited but mainly cannon fodder on this occasion, swept aside by Jurgen Klopp’s juggernaut who, by full-time, were 23 points clear of second-placed [Manchester City](https://theathletic.com/football/team/manchester-city/).