The cameras lingered on crestfallen Aston Villa faces. One half of Wembley was despondent and increasingly empty. Supporters were leaving early and, such were the queues for the exits, many had their backs turned as Ismaila Sarr’s second goal — Crystal Palace’s third — went in.

Rich: Awful, devoid of ideas and tired. Crystal Palace were much the better team. Every turn, flick and dummy was easy to snuff out. Suddenly our season looks as barren as all of the others.

Crystal Palace outplayed Aston Villa as they soared into the FA Cup final for only the third time with two brilliant goals by Ismaila Sarr and a stunner by Eberechi Eze sealing a 3-0 victory in an entertaining clash at Wembley on Saturday.