Winger outlines what Aston Villa must do after FA Cup heartbreak

The winger, who made his return from injury in the 3-0 semi-final defeat to Crystal Palace, insisted there was still plenty for Unai Emery’s team to play for and claimed they now face four “cup finals” as they hunt down a top-five Premier League finish.

Villa, who sit three points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest, are back in action when they host Fulham on Saturday to begin the final run-in.

Bailey told ESPN: "We still have something to fight for, and that's trying to make the Champions League again. 

“We have four games to go—it’s going to be four finals for us. We just have to give it everything and try to make it a good season.

“Even though we were unfortunate not to go through in the Champions League and the FA Cup, we still have the league. It is full gas from here.”

Bailey claimed Villa were beaten by the “more focused” team after Palace ran away with Saturday’s semi-final.

The Jamaica international, who came off the bench as a second half substitute, felt both teams were “playing it safe” before Eberechi Eze opened the scoring with a blistering effort just past the half-hour mark.

Villa could not find a leveller and fell further behind when Ismaila Sarr struck from distance, after Jean-Philippe Mateta had missed a penalty. Bailey saw an effort blocked on the line by team-mate Pau Torres and was then one of several players denied by Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, before Sarr struck again late on.

"I think they were more concentrated and focused than us,” he said.

"In the beginning, both teams were on edge and playing it safe. But for most of the game, we had control. 

“We knew how dangerous they were on the counter, and unfortunately, we left ourselves open in the first half. We know they are dominant when they come on the counter. They took their chances and made it difficult for us.”

Palace will finish the season unbeaten against Villa in four meetings, after becoming only the second team in history since Tottenham in 1969 to knock them out of both domestic cup competitions in the same campaign. 

“We know they are a strong side, and they are used to defending for long periods,” said Bailey. “They are good at what they do, and it was hard for us to get clear opportunities and do what we wanted, and they did very well. 

“But we got our chances, and unfortunately we didn’t take our chance early, and they did; that cost us the game from very early on. We tried everything we could, and nothing was coming off for us.”