FURIOUS Aston Villa fans accused boss Gerard Houllier of making a “mockery” of the FA Cup after his severely-weakened team crashed out of the tournament.

Around 3,000 Villa supporters spent £22.50 each on tickets to watch their team take on Manchester City in the fifth round tie on Wednesday night.

But many said the 90-mile trip from Birmingham to Manchester – and the extra cash they spent on travel and food – counted for nothing with Houllier making eight changes and leaving several star names on the substitutes’ bench.

Villa lost 3-0, ending their chances of winning a trophy this season and taking their wait for an eighth FA Cup success into a 55th year.

The defeat also came just days after rivals Birmingham City lifted the Carling Cup.

Jonathan Fear, who edits the Vital Villa fanzine, said: “The talk all week was about how the cup was being taken seriously.

“But when I saw the team it was evident that was not the case.

“This was a massive chance for us to win a trophy.