Four minutes had elapsed when beanpole striker Peter Crouch had a goal disallowed after the assistant referee adjudged the ball to have already crossed the goal-line before Thomas Hitzlsperger’s right-wing cross came in.

Lille finally found their way into the game and had their first effort on goal thanks to a Philippe Brunel free-kick which was comfortably dealt with by Villa’s debutant keeper Stefan Postma.

Postma, a close season signing from De Graafschap, stepped in after regular first choice Peter Enckelman failed a late fitness test on a groin injury.

Moroccan winger Mustapha Hadji was also given his first start of the competition by Villa boss Graham Taylor to try and supply the ammunition for powerful centre forwards Marcus Allback and Crouch.

Lille looked a little short of ideas following the departure of two of their big-name players from last season.

Bruno Cheyrou left for Liverpool while defensive rock Pascal Cygan earned a dream move to Arsenal.

They did have a few, with Brunel at the heart of most of them.

The 29-year-old attacking midfielder should have given the hosts the lead after 33 minutes but his lob drifted wide of the upright.

Allback looked dangerous in tandem with Crouch and missed a great opportunity to open the scoring 10 minutes before the interval but, after a fine run and cross from Jlloyd Samuel, the Swedish international failed to get a shot in on target.

The final action of the half saw Brunel firing just wide after Postma had rushed off his line to deny Mile Sterjovski.