Premier League: Stoke City v Aston Villa half time report
Stoke 0 Aston Villa 1
An expertly taken header from Aston Villa’s Stewart Downing separates the sides at the break at the Britannia Stadium.
Stoke defender Robert Huth lost Downing on the corner of the penalty area 34 minutes in, and the winger brilliantly directed a Gabriel Agbonlahor cross beyond Thomas Sørensen and into the net via the far post.
Another superb Agbonlahor cross was headed wide by Ashley Young shortly after, as Villa improved as the half went on. Sørensen denied Downing shortly before the break.
Earlier, Stoke had started the better of the two sides, and Kenwyne Jones was denied by an alert Brad Friedel when played clean through, before the home side were incensed after what they saw as a handball by Villa’s James Collins in the penalty area go unpunished.
Stoke boss Tony Pulis is not at tonight’s match following the death of his mother earlier today, while Villa are still being managed by Kevin MacDonald in Gérard Houllier’s absence.
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