Suspended Ghana striker Jordan Ayew led Aston Villa's U21 side to defeat the club's senior side 3-0 as coach Remi Garde watched in horror as his expensive flops plummeted to a new low.
Garde's intention was to give his relegation-threatened aces a boost but Ayew ensured that it backfired spectacularly by grabbing two goals at their Bodymoor Heath training ground last Friday.
Remi Garde watched on as an Aston Villa team containing mainly senior players was beaten 3-0 by a side predominately picked from the club’s Under-21s squad in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
The match saw nine first-team squad players on the losing side to a more youthful XI, giving Garde reason to consider his options ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash at Stoke.
Ayew, suspended for Saturday, led the line for the younger team, which also included Leandro Lacuna and Jack Lyden, a recent graduate to the first-team picture.
Andre Green and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, both 17, pressed claims for inclusion with good performances.
On the defeated team were Carles Gil, Jordan Veretout, Idrissa Gana, and Ashley Westwood, all expected to start at the Britannia, alongside Brad Guzan, Ciaran Clark, Kieran Richardson, Alan Hutton, and Scott Sinclair.
Garde had lined-up the game as his side were not in FA Cup action having lost 4-0 to Man City.
It is believed he weighing up squad changes ahead of his side's trip to Stoke on Saturday.
Meanwhile, fuming Villa supporters intend to stage a walkout in the 74th minute of their next three home games.
The 'Out the door on 74' campaign, set for clashes against Everton, Tottenham and Chelsea, is being organised in protest at how the club is run.