Whelan hits the post for Stoke! He fired the ball goalwards from 25 yards out and Friedel was beaten.

Shawcross misses a great chance to pull one back for Stoke, but his header sailed over the bar.

Agbonlahor should have made it 3-0 to Villa. His shot was well saved by Simonsen.

Lawrence gets back to rob the ball off Milner. The Villa winger is starting to see more of the ball.

Heskey tries to turn on the edge of the Stoke box but Sonko stands firm and clears the danger.

Milner hits a shot from outside the area but Higginbotham gets across to block it.

Fuller twists on the edge of the Villa box and volleys over the bar. Good effort by the substitute.

Cuellar chips the ball forward looking for Agbonlahor but Sonko does well to clear the danger.

A brilliant challenge by Davies denies Fuller just as he was about to pull the trigger in the Villa box.

Beattie makes a mess of his pass after doing well to get into the Villa box. Fuller was ready to pounce but the ball never came.

Sonko sends along ball looking for Fuller but he couldn't control it and Villa clear. Stoke are starting to get a foothold in this game.

Fuller is striaght into the action as he races through the Villa defence but the linesman flagged him offside.

Lawrence swings over a cross but Heskey is back defending for Villa and makes the clearance.

Wilkinson fires a shot across the Villa goal but it goes out for a throw.

Milner strides through the centre of midfield and plays in Agbonlahor but Simonsen collects.

Ashley Young has an opportunity to get in a cross but he slices the ball out for a goal kick to Stoke.

Cuellar swings a boot at the ball from 25 yards out but it goes well wide of the Stoke goal.

Into the final 5 minutes of the first half and there's signs that Villa are running out of ideas. They've dominated the game but have yet to find a breakthrough.

Sidibe clips a high ball forward looking for Beattie but the former Sheffield United striker was offside.

Diao hooks the ball out after yet another dangerous cross from Ashley Young. It's all Villa.

Knight gets his head to a Barry cross but the ball sails over the bar.

Great chance for Villa as Milner surges into the Stoke box and smashes the ball across the six yard box. Heskey arrived late and just couldn't reach it.

Beattie is the only Stoke player in Villa's half - and he's struggling to keep it when the ball is played forward to him.

Stoke try and build an attacking move of their own through Faye and Wilkinson but Cuellar breaks it up and brings the ball out of defence for Villa.

Knight clips the ball into Milner and his cross is knocked out for a corner to the home side.

Luke Young plays in Heskey but he turns into Sonko and the Stoke defender clears.

Barry hits a volley from 20 yards out but the ball flies well wide of the target.

Sorensen does well to punch the ball clear from Ashley Young's free-kick.

Ashley Young wins a corner for Villa after his 35 yard shot is deflected wide by Sonko.

And another chance for Stoke. This time Faye back-heeled the ball wide of the upright.

At last Stoke have a chance of their own. It was Beattie who caused problems in the Villa box but Sidibe fired wide.

Surely Stoke can't keep this up. It's Agbonlahor who fires in a shot this time but Sonko just managed to get the block in.

Stoke are living dangerously. Higginbotham hacks the ball off the line after Barry and Luke Young combined well on the right.

Milner sends another dangerous cross into the Stoke box but Sorensen races off his line to collect. Good early pressure from Villa.

Barry floats a cross to the back post but Agbonlahor just fails to reach it and Stoke clear.

Sonko slides in to deny Heskey just as the England striker was about to shoot on the edge of the box.

Wilkinson sends a long pass down the line looking for Beattie but the ball runs out for a goal kick.

Referee Howard Webb gets the game under way at a packed Villa Park.