After a lengthy injury absence that kept Tyrone Mings out of action for 14 months, he would have relished the opportunity to start the Champions League match against Club Bruges.
Mings, capped 18 times by England, made a superb goalline clearance to keep it goalless in the first half, but ultimately his bizarre mistake proved costly as Aston Villa lost for the first time in the Champions League this season following three victories.
The defender, thinking Emiliano Martinez had not taken a goal kick, picked up the ball, placed it back in the six-yard box and knocked it to the goalkeeper, only for the referee to decide it was a handball offence and award a penalty, which was then converted.
That proved to be the only goal in Belgium as Villa missed the chance to return to the top of the league.
However, while Mings’ error will get the headlines, boss Unai Emery will be equally disappointed at his side’s failure to create clear chances when they had most of the second half to force an equaliser.
So it is nine points from 12 in the competition for Villa so far.
They have already beaten Bayern Munich and will be looking to forget about this match and create another magical night at Villa Park when they entertain Juventus at the end of the month.