Analysis: Muted anger at latest FA Cup embarrassment highlights current reality for Aston Villa

The fact Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Peterborough United was met with an accepted shrug by many members of the fanbase says much about the revised priorities at Villa Park these days, along with perhaps a little about the FA Cup’s continued fall from grace.

Embarrassing though the result might have been and depressing as it may sound, the brutal truth is it will be quickly forgotten should Villa beat Nottingham Forest in the Championship this weekend.

What will linger for a good while longer on the mind of manager Steve Bruce is the manner of the performance.

The scoreline flattered Villa alone, as a much-changed starting XI were thoroughly outplayed by hungry and skilful opponents.

It is fair to say a number of players, both young and experienced, squandered the chance to stake their claim for more playing time in the league.

Bruce took full responsibility for the team selection but it would be wrong to criticise the manager too much on that front.

Such is the necessity for Villa to win promotion, fielding too many from what is now the first-choice Championship XI would have been too much of a risk, particularly in a season when the manager has seen so many key men sustain injuries during matches.

Besides, the team Bruce did name could hardly be described as weak. The defence alone contained a former England captain, a Wales international and a player with a Premier League winner’s medal, while two more full internationals patrolled the midfield.

It remained, however, an unfamiliar XI and Peterborough had little trouble exposing Villa’s creaking joints.

Of those fringe players given a start, only goalkeeper Jed Steer impressed and boy, was he given enough opportunity to do so.

Time and again Peterborough broke through Villa’s defences only to find Steer standing in the way. He alone was the reason for the hosts getting within 15 minutes of escaping with a victory which would have been thoroughly undeserved.

The irony, of course, is the 25-year-old may well not play another minute this season, such has been Sam Johnstone’s excellent form in the league.

If nothing else, Bruce now knows he has a more than capable replacement should any misfortune befall Villa’s No.1 between now and May.

Of the outfield players, Ritchie De Laet perhaps fared best, setting up Keinan Davis for Villa’s eighth-minute opener.

Many would have expected Davis’s early strike to be the prelude to a comfortable afternoon, but Peterborough dominated from then on.

Jack Marriott finally drew them level with 15 minutes remaining and though Birkir Bjarnason missed a glorious chance to restore Villa’s advantage, hitting the bar from two yards out, Ryan Tafazolli headed Posh in front before Marriott sealed the win deep into stoppage time.

This was Villa’s third FA Cup exit to lower league opposition in six seasons, a lamentable record.

Yet, ultimately, Saturday’s most significant development in the context of this season was skipper John Terry completing 90 minutes in his first game since recovering from a broken foot.

Villa's relationship with the FA Cup might be difficult for those with only a passing interest in the club to understand. Seven-times winners, their last triumph came way back in 1957 and generations of supporters have grown up on stories of glories past, while themselves enduring a continued disappointment in the competition.

For a significant number of fans, there is no trophy they would rather see their team win.

Whatever the short-term aims for Villa, the long-term must include reaching the point when success in the FA Cup is once again a primary goal.