DIDN’T they do well?

Villa will have to make do without the star prize from this particular Generation Game.

But despite their cruel NextGen Series knockout, last night’s last eight tie proved there are plenty of treats on the Bodymoor Heath conveyor belt to get excited about.

Villa’s young guns will rue their wastefulness after missing enough chances to have won a quarter-final, semi and final.

However, the most important thing is making sure this promising generation of teenagers learn from the experience and don’t squander their potential after thrilling an enthusiastic 3,500-strong Villa Park crowd.

Captain marvel and first-team newcomer Gary Gardner looked like prolonging the claret and blues’ European experience with a last-gasp goal to cancel out Chris Gadi’s first-half opener.

But the French visitors grabbed a heart-breaking 102nd minute winner in extra-time to set up a semi-final against Inter Milan.

From the moment Gardner’s early shot was saved they were in the ascendancy with keeper Ibrahima Sy also denying Daniel Johnson and Graham Burke.

Villa should have boasted a comfortable lead with Burke taking too long to get a shot away after Gardner and Michael Drennan combined impressively.

They were to rue their wastefulness on 37 minutes when Marseille took a surprise lead.

Sadly the setpiece susceptibility that has afflicted the first team seemed to have spread to the kids when Chris Gadi scored against the run of play.