WATCH: Fans out the door on 74 as Villa strugglers fail again

And the fans who walked out early – angry at the club's lack of direction as Villa look certain to drop into the Championship – missed the one bright spot of last night's loss to Everton, a Villa goal.

But substitute Rudy Gestede's close-range header was not enough to save Villa from a 3-1 defeat .

A supporters group had urged fans to stage the walkout in protest at owner Randy Lerner in the 74th minute – Villa were formed in 1874. There were already thousands of empty seats with an official attendance of 29,755 highlighting Villa's current plight.

For those who remained, as at Stoke on Saturday, there was more self-mocking, including a defiant rendition of "Aston Villa....by far the greatest team the world has ever seen."

With their team bottom of the table, eight points from safety and only three Premier League wins all season, fans intend to stage the 'Out the Door on '74' campaign in the next two home games against Tottenham (March 13) and Chelsea (April 2).

Villa were booed when they went in at half-time 2-0 behind, goals by Ramiro Funes Mori and Aaron Lennon putting Everton firmly in control, and a third goal by former Albion favourite Romelu Lukaku did nothing to lift the mood.

Gestede, on for Gabby Agbonlahor, gave a glimmer of hope with his 79th-minute header but the visitors comfortably played out the match.

The claret and blues were greeted by more boos at the final whistle from the fans who had stayed to the bitter end, with boss Remi Garde making the trudge down the touchline to the tunnel with a now-familiar hangdog expression.

Villa fans were quick to express their feelings on social media. Dave Bytheway tweeted: "Heartbreaking seeing young kids being taken home early. Feel ashamed Lerner, Fox & co avfc #avfc @AVFCOfficial"

Video courtesy of 'The Villa View'