Villa Park was left stunned as Villa crashed out of Europe to Rapid Vienna for the second year running.

Leading 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate with just 13 minutes to go courtesy of Gabby Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey strikes, the claret and blues looked on course to reach the Europa League Group Stages.

But two goals in three minutes from Mario Sonnleitner and Rene Gartler in the play-off second leg meant another excruciating early end to their European dream at the hands of the Austrians.

Just as was the case last year – and in Sunday’s drubbing by Newcastle – Villa even missed a penalty, with Stiliyan Petrov seeing his attempt saved after 72 minutes when the score was tied at 1-1.

Having begun brightly enough, it was a poor display from Villa and they could have few arguments with the outcome.

And the defeat, which comes on the back of a 6-0 trouncing on Tyneside, surely ends caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald’s chances of becoming Martin O’Neill’s permanent replacement.

MacDonald started with just three of the side hammered 6-0 at Newcastle on Sunday – Stephen Ireland, Ashley Young and Petrov – with fit-again trio James Collins, Carlos Cuellar and Agbonlahor all handed their first starts of the new term.

It was vital Villa got off to a bright start to banish the memory of their Tyneside thrashing and they did that just that, with Young sliding in Agbonlahor only for his low effort to be saved by the goalkeeper.

The pair soon combined for Villa’s opener as Petrov’s searching pass into the corner was collected by Young and his inviting cross was converted at the near post by the sliding Agbonlahor.

But the striker’s evening was brought to a premature end, as he had to be substituted with an injury after 40 minutes.

With Rapid needing just a goal to force extra-time, the tie remained finely poised and Villa’s worst nightmares were realised on 52 minutes.

Veli Kavlak turned the disappointing Habib Beye inside out before crossing for Atdhe Nuhiu to power in at the near post.

The game swung back and forth with both teams getting chances but it was Villa who were handed a lifeline when they were handed a penalty for a foul on Heskey with 18 minutes left, only for Petrov’s effort to be saved.

However, it looked like they had got out of jail when Heskey chested in Beye’s volley from the edge of the area on 77 minutes.

But just a minute later Rapid had the advantage, via away goals, for the first time in the tie when Guzan fumbled Sonnleitner’s header and it squirmed over the line.

A disastrous night was complete just three minutes later when a quickfire counter was turned in by Gartler, leaving Villa facing up to more Euro misery.