It had all been going so well. But then came the Moscow madness and a series of poor league league results.
Here is a recap on the second half of Villa's rollercoaster campaign.
January
The new year began with a scrappy 2-1 F.A. Cup win as a potential banana skin was avoided at League Two side Gillingham.
A hat-trick of league wins was to follow the first of which was the completion of a satisfying double against West Brom.
Unfortunately, during that game, skipper Martin Laursen sustained an injury which proved to be career ending and his absence was to have a massive effect on the team later in the campaign.
Emile Heskey made his Villa debut at Portsmouth after joining from Wigan for £3.5m and the England man made an immediate impact with a fine winning strike.
But, he was unable to repeat his heroics against his former club as Steve Bruce’s men claimed a resolute, if a little fortuitous point at Villa Park.
February
Villa were flying high at the start of February and thoughts of a Champions League place were really beginning to look realistic. The Claret and Blue were even being tipped as outsiders for the title and they showed Championship winning form by easily dismissing Blackburn at Ewood Park.
Unfortunately, that was to be the last away win of the season and the rest of the month was not a happy time for the Claret and Blue.
Three days before the game against Sam Allardyce’s Rovers, Villa had made it through to the fourth round of the F.A. Cup with a replay win against Doncaster at Villa Park.
They were drawn against Everton in the next round and that was to prove fatal as David Moyes’ men claimed a dominant 3-1 victory on Merseyside, which was sweet revenge for their December league defeat.
A UEFA Cup tie against rich Russians CSKA Moscow was next up and an admirable 1-1 draw was earned in the home leg.
Unfortunately, though, Chelsea and new manager Guus Hiddink proved to be far more difficult opposition as they completed a double over the Midlanders at Villa Park.
Then came the most infamous decision of the season O’Neill chose to rest his first teamers for the trip to Moscow and Villa paid the price as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat in the Russian capital.
Some fans chose to lambast the Northern Irishman who had just made a massive blunder that cost his side not only the chance to claim some silverware but also their good league form.
March
Buckling under the pressure of claiming a coveted Champions League place, Villa surrendered a 2-0 lead at home to a poor Stoke side, with the Potters scoring twice in the last three minutes of the game.
A disappointing 2-0 defeat at Manchester City added insult to injury as O’Neill’s rested regular starters began to look lethargic and limited in ability.
Villa then lost at home to Spurs with Agbonlahor sarcastically cheered as he left the pitch and all hopes of a top four finish beginning to fade.
And after a 5-0 smashing at Anfield fans began to lose faith in their side, who had previously been such a tight unit on their travels.
April
The loss of Laursen was undoubtedly beginning to tell with Knight and Curtis Davies struggling for any sort of form and young Italian striker Federico Macheda scored a stunning goal winner as Villa surrendered a 2-1 lead at Old Trafford.
That crushing defeat compounded the misery of a torrid series of results and Villa found themselves in a fight for fifth with Everton who were next up at Villa Park.
The clash proved to be a real cracker with the Claret and Blue twice recovering from a two goal deficit to claim a morale boosting 3-3 draw.
Back to back home fixtures saw Gianfranco Zola’s side come to the Midlands and a long awaited win seemed to be on the cards until Diego Tristan netted a late leveller for the Hammers.
The month concluded with a 1-1 draw at Bolton as Villa again surrendered a lead and with defensive frailties proving prominent once more.
May
The relief was there for all to see as Carew struck to finish off Hull and hand Villa a first win in three months. The in-form striker netted in the first half against the Tigers and sent them spiralling further into the relegation melee.
But, O’Neill’s men again failed to kick on and Fulham benefitted from more defensive disarray to claim a 3-1 victory at Craven Cottage.
With Everton on their tails, Villa really needed a win at relegation threatened Middlesbrough but Tuncay’s bicycle kick - his third goal of the season against the Claret and Blue - meant that Carew’s second half strike was only good enough for a point.
Newcastle made the trip to the Midlands for the final day of the season and it was despair for Alan Shearer’s men as Villa’s 1-0 win condemned the Magpies to the Championship.
It was a fortuitous victory and one that wasn’t enough to secure fifth but a win is a win and it was a nice end to a good campaign for Villa.
Have your say on Villa's season now by signing up to our thriving messageboard!