INTERTOTO CUP:  Aston Villa are facing up to a season without European football after crashing out of the InterToto Cup at the semi-final stage to Lille.

Villa looked to have done the hard work after drawing 1-1 away to the French side in the first leg last week. But Lille had shown their pedigree last season in two Champions League meetings with Manchester United and they caught Villa cold with two goals in barely a minute either side of half-time.

Villa manager Graham Taylor had expressed reservations all along about playing in such a competition in World Cup year because of the fears of footballing burn-out and had his worst fears realised.

Now, with the chance of a UEFA Cup spot having been snatched from Villa's grasp, he faces a massive task to rebuild the confidence of his players with the start of the Premiership season only 10 days away.

Chairman Doug Ellis will also be an unhappy man after seeing the chance of a lucrative run in Europe disappear at a rain-soaked Villa Park.

The home side started positively enough but were left to rue missed first-half chances, and once they had gone behind there was little in the way of creativity to suggest they could rescue the cause.

In fact, Villa were crying out for the calibre of a Paul Merson, who has now departed to Portsmouth on a free transfer.

In first half injury-time the French side took a shock lead. Abdelilah Fahmi drilled a low free-kick from 25 yards out which took a wicked deflection off the Villa defensive wall and left goalkeeper Peter Enckelman stranded.

That was a big enough blow for the home side, but within 35 seconds of the restart Lille doubled their lead as Villa were caught cold. Enckelman may feel that he should have held the shot driven at him by Phillipe Brunel but the ball rebounded to Nicolas Bonnal who made no mistake.

Aston Villa ... 0

Lille ... 2

Lille win 3-1 on aggregate