Trailing by four goals at the break, and reduced to men after Di’Shon Bernard had been sent off, the Reds made a commendable effort to claim something from the match after Aliou Traore scored a brilliant riposte late on.
To say it was a damp evening in this little corner of the West Midlands is the most grievous use of understatement because heavy rain started well before the game began and showed little signs of easing throughout the evening.
A slow start to the game resulted in little goalmouth action but, in the 12th minute, Villa carved out the first real opportunity which culminated when Jacob Ramsey, who had just recovered from an early knock to his nose, shot just wide.