A dramatic last minute winner from Robert Huth Stoke City took all three points by beating Aston Villa 2-1 Potters at the Britannia Stadium. Huth 93rd minute winner Kenwyne Jones '80: th minute header lifted Stewart Downing opened the first half as Villa Stoke grabbed his first win of the season.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis, who was absent for the first half after the death of his mother, made a change in the side beaten by Chelsea, with Marc Wilson made his debut at the expense of Andy Wilkinson after his deadline day move from Portsmouth. Newcomers Jermaine Pennant and Eidur Gudjohnsen was on the bench for the clash.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis, who was absent for the first half after the death of his mother, made a change in the side beaten by Chelsea, with Marc Wilson made his debut at the expense of Andy Wilkinson after his deadline day move from Portsmouth. Newcomers Jermaine Pennant and Eidur Gudjohnsen was on the bench for the clash.
Aston Villa keeper, Kevin MacDonald again chose the starting line in the absence of new manager Gerard Houllier, who attended a ceremony in France. MacDonald made a change to the side that beat Everton, Gabriel Agbonlahor gave his first Premiership start of the season in place of injured John Carew.
Stoke began the game much more positive than their visitors with Robert Huth and Kenwyne Jones is going close in the opening minutes. The first sight on goal fell to Jones again in minute 10, the striker was found by fellow new signing Mark Wilson, but Jones' low shot well saved by Brad Friedel.
The home side continued to press and on 15 minutes approached. Matthew Etherington sent a direct free kick penalty area at the head of Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth and was the man former Chelsea player has reached the cross but could only hit the ball in air and Friedel was able to easily claim .
Villa first half chance of the game came two minutes later through young Marc Albrighton. Agbonlahor took the ball on the edge of the penalty area before finding Nigel Reo-Coker, who played the ball to his left to Albrighton, the midfielder took a pass from the left edge of the penalty area, but to strike the right foot over the bar without worrying about Thomas Sorensen.
Stoke began the game much more positive than their visitors with Robert Huth and Kenwyne Jones is going close in the opening minutes. The first sight on goal fell to Jones again in minute 10, the striker was found by fellow new signing Mark Wilson, but Jones' low shot well saved by Brad Friedel.
The home side continued to press and on 15 minutes approached. Matthew Etherington sent a direct free kick penalty area at the head of Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth and was the man former Chelsea player has reached the cross but could only hit the ball in air and Friedel was able to easily claim .
Villa first half chance of the game came two minutes later through young Marc Albrighton. Agbonlahor took the ball on the edge of the penalty area before finding Nigel Reo-Coker, who played the ball to his left to Albrighton, the midfielder took a pass from the left edge of the penalty area, but to strike the right foot over the bar without worrying about Thomas Sorensen.
In 25 minutes, the lively Jones tested Friedel, this time from distance. The attacker pulled down a long ball from Sorensen 25 meters of the goal and fired a left foot shot away from goal, but Friedel has saved well low to his right.
Villa started to come back in the game and on 35 minutes made their pressure pay Stewart Downing gave them the lead. Agbonlahor gave left foot cross back to the post he met Downing's full length dive and headed the ball into the bottom corner of the net for his second goal of the season.
Two minutes later the visitors survived a penalty shout Stoke. A long throw from Rory Delap has caused confusion in the penalty area and Villa header Jones', the ball seemed to hit the arm of James Collins, but referee Lee Probert wave away the protests of the home team.
With five minutes remaining half of the city began to put pressure on the side of the house and created four good chances to double their advantage. The first occasion came in the 40th minute Agbonlahor other dangerous center. This time the cross came from the left and Ashley Young found unmarked in the area but the striker could not divert his header goalwards and the ball flew wide of the goal.
Villa started to come back in the game and on 35 minutes made their pressure pay Stewart Downing gave them the lead. Agbonlahor gave left foot cross back to the post he met Downing's full length dive and headed the ball into the bottom corner of the net for his second goal of the season.
Two minutes later the visitors survived a penalty shout Stoke. A long throw from Rory Delap has caused confusion in the penalty area and Villa header Jones', the ball seemed to hit the arm of James Collins, but referee Lee Probert wave away the protests of the home team.
With five minutes remaining half of the city began to put pressure on the side of the house and created four good chances to double their advantage. The first occasion came in the 40th minute Agbonlahor other dangerous center. This time the cross came from the left and Ashley Young found unmarked in the area but the striker could not divert his header goalwards and the ball flew wide of the goal.
Three minutes later, Villa created a new opportunity to Downing delivered a low cross that has not yet been fully clarified defense Stoke. Reo-Coker are challenged for the ball on the edge of the loose ball and fell on the path of James Collins, but his shot was well saved by Sorensen.
And in the final minute of regulation time in another dangerous cross from the right, this time from Albrighton found Downing at the far post but the shot slip wing were collected from the goal line Sorensen. Stephen Warnock was on the loose ball but his shot was blocked for a corner.
Villa last chance of the half came in the second minute of stoppage time, a corner routine addressed by Downing and Ashley Young down the left enables young people to enter the penalty area, but no one was there to get home of its low center.
Stoke has received a boost at half time with the arrival of manager Tony Pulis and his players all around the perfect answer five minutes of the second half. Matthew Etherington lack met Jones at fullback, but his head was brought down by Friedel.
Another long throw from Delap on 56 minutes caused additional problems for the defense of Villa. Friedel was able to palm the ball clear but only in the path of Etherington, but the extreme left-hander has been blocked by Reo-Coker and Villa were able to eliminate the danger.
The second half was not as open as the first half and neither side really created many chances until the 68th minute when defender Ryan Shawcross Stoke Villa almost gifted a second goal. The defense read a deep pass from Ashley Young before coming to Reo-Coker, but then played a low pass back to his goalkeeper who allowed the midfielder to Villa for her and Sorensen had not been fast out of place, would have doubled team advantage.
Stoke has received a boost at half time with the arrival of manager Tony Pulis and his players all around the perfect answer five minutes of the second half. Matthew Etherington lack met Jones at fullback, but his head was brought down by Friedel.
Another long throw from Delap on 56 minutes caused additional problems for the defense of Villa. Friedel was able to palm the ball clear but only in the path of Etherington, but the extreme left-hander has been blocked by Reo-Coker and Villa were able to eliminate the danger.
The second half was not as open as the first half and neither side really created many chances until the 68th minute when defender Ryan Shawcross Stoke Villa almost gifted a second goal. The defense read a deep pass from Ashley Young before coming to Reo-Coker, but then played a low pass back to his goalkeeper who allowed the midfielder to Villa for her and Sorensen had not been fast out of place, would have doubled team advantage.
After putting much pressure on the defense of Villa Stoke were finally rewarded on 80 minutes that Kenwyne Jones scored his first goal since joining the club this summer. The team has worked hard to keep the ball alive during an attack and when substitute Ricardo Fuller in Etherington play a ball inside the penalty area, the striker managed to chip a cross at the head of Jones, to power a header past Friedel and celebrated by holding his acrobatic routine.
Stoke finished the game far stronger than their opponents and in the 87th minute Fuller once again caused problems at the Villa defense as he took on Collins before unleashing a left foot shot towards goal, but Friedel was able to tip the ball wide.
In the final minute of the match Stoke snatched a dramatic winner by Huth. Etherington free kick was not cleared and a cross left wing down, put the ball past Friedel to give the Potters Huth their first win of the season.
