The Europa League may well be European football’s consolation prize but no side wants the indignity of an exit before the group stages. Sadly for Aston Villa, that’s the fate that befell them as Rapid Vienna denied the Villa Park faithful some air miles with two late strikes to send Kevin McDonald home to refresh his CV. Goodnight Vienna Kevin?

Over in Turkey, Liverpool were unconvincing again but at least booked their progress with a 2-1 win over Trabzonspor, while Man City, their untroubled conquerors on Monday, looked at ease once again as they dismissed the challenge of Timisoara by a two goal margin at Eastlands.

Back in the cosy comfort of domestic football, a second-string Birmingham were in action in the Carling Cup, stuttering to a 3-2 victory against the might of Rochdale.
Here’s our notes from last night’s action…

Aston Villa were stung by two late goals to exit from the Europa League at the hands of Rapid Vienna for the second season running. It had all started well enough for McDonald’s men; Ashley Young and the returning Gabby Agbonlahor had looked lively and combined to give Villa the lead on 22 minutes. But Agbonlahor’s exit with a “tight calf” disrupted matters and another missed Villa penalty, this time by Stylian Petrov, cost them dear as Vienna built on their shock equaliser to notch two late goals that cancelled out Emile Heskey’s second on the night for Villa.

In Fantasy terms we can at least now consider Villa players without the threat of rotation for European games. It’s hard to say how much importance Villa would have placed on the Europa League campaign and you’d have to say that, given the teamsheet last night, it hardly looked a priority for them. McDonald chose to rest both Stephen Warnock and Richard Dunne at the back, along with Brad Friedel in goal. Those decisions failed to help matters as Villa were again found out defensively following their 6-0 mauling at Newcastle on Sunday.

Confidence is at a premium at Villa Park right now and the home clash with Everton this weekend looks crucial to Kevin McDonald’s rapidly fading chances of getting his feet under the desk as full-time manager. Everton will certainly fancy themselves to trouble the Villa defence on last night’s evidence.

McDonald’s team selection for that game has been made easier by the injury to Agbonlahor who now would seem unlikely to figure in his plans on Sunday. That could find Marc Albrighton, who came off the bench to replace Agonblahor last night, recalled to the starting linuep much to the relief of his Fantasy owners. John Carew, rested last night, would also seem likely to return to lead the attack with Young played just off him in the support role and Stewart Downing taking the left-flank. I’d also expect to see a familiar back four of Carlos Cuellar, James Collins, Dunne and Warnock as Villa attempt to restore some calm to the suffering rearguard.

Liverpool faired better in Turkey but their passage to progress was fraught and found a mightily relieved Roy Hodgson at the final whistle.

In the end an own goal created by a Glenn Johnson surge and cross and a late Dirk Kuyt winner were enough to see Liverpool emerge from Trabzonspor’s drenched, partisan arena with a result.

Hodgson’s approach to this game – resting the likes of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, would indicate that we shouldn’t be too worried about Premier League rest and rotation around European games. Hodgson’s priority is most certainly the league table and the Liverpool boss clearly has work to do. The visit of West Brom would appear to be the perfect fixture to go through the gears and kick-start the season but so far, there’s no doubt Liverpool have struggled to knit together as an attacking unit which will concern those Fantasy Managers considering the likes of Gerrard and Torres for Sunday’s game.

Man City’s Europa League experience was by far the most routine last night. Strikes from Shaun Wright-Phillips and Dedryck Boyata ensured a comfortable victory against Timisoara.

Roberto Mancini of course made changes for a second-leg that was almost academic by the 1-0 victory in Romania – he made seven in all with Emmanuel Adebayor handed a start up front with Jo.

Wright-Phillips fired home from a Patrick Vieira cross, while Boyata converted a David Silva free-kick to nod the second. It’s very likely that all four players involved will miss out when Mancini names his side for the potentially tricky trip to Sunderland this weekend.

Wright-Phillips, Boyata and Silva were the standout performers on the night and Silva in particular presents Mancini with a problem given that Adam Johnson and James Milner filled the wide roles against Liverpool on Monday so effectively. The City boss did however make it clear in his post-match comments that, in the short term, Silva will be subject to rotation…

“Silva needs time. He’s a fantastic player, but playing in the Premier League is different to La Liga.”

Last night’s one Carling Cup tie involving a Premier League side found Birmingham stumble to a 3-2 win over lower league Rochdale. A spot-kick from James McFadden and goals from the returning David Murphy and full debutant Matt Derbyshire were just enough for the Birmingham to see off their plucky opponents.

Alex McLeish has made eight changes in total from the side that earned the three points against Blackburn at the weekend with starts for Enric Valles, Lee Bowyer and Michel in midfield, while David Murphy returned from long-term injury at left-back. Matt Derbyshire earned his first full start in attack alongside Garry O’Connor.

If anything such changes confirmed part of McLeish’s likely teamsheet for the trip to Bolton with Nikola Zigic and Cameron Jerome surely favourites to start up front once again in that one. McFadden took a knock in the game, replaced by Seb Larsson at half-time so he will be an immediate doubt for the Reebok trip. Significantly perhaps, Larsson earned assists for both of Birmingham’s second-half strikes on his appearance from the bench. He seems to be maintaining his strong early season form then.