The Clarets couldn’t make it a happy New Year as a third successive defeat left them looking over their shoulders at the start of 2020.
Sean Dyche’s men still have a handy cushion above the bottom three places as they head into the new decade.
But Villa’s win – secured by first-half goals from Wesley and the outstanding Jack Grealish – allowed the Midlanders to climb out of the relegation places and within three points of the Clarets, whose barnstorming second-half performance was ultimately too little, too late.
Burnley were oustanding after the break as they looked to stave off a sixth home defeat of the season and first against a side in the bottom half of the table.