Having named a rather bizarre starting XI and opting for a 5-3-2 formation, all eyes were on Tim Sherwood as the match got under way.
Both sides struggled to create goal-scoring opportunities in the opening minutes, even with some dubious defending on display at Villa Park.
The visitors should have scored after four minutes, when Krkic and Walters combined to release Diouf. It took a superb tackle from Aston Villa captain Richards to ensure his side did not concede another early goal.
Adam almost opened the scoring in spectacular fashion after eighteen minutes with a lobbed effort from inside his own half that was destined for the corner of the net until a backpedalling Guzan scraped it clear.
Nine minutes later, Lescott, with a header from a corner, forced Butland to tip the ball over the bar.
Set up with three centre halves, the hosts lacked creativity and it wasn’t long before the home fans were calling for the introduction of Grealish.
Arnautovic, who had caused the hosts major problems, capitalised on a good pass from Bojan after thirty-five minutes and beat Guzan. The Austrian was unimpressed to see that he had been flagged offside – and rightly so, as replays show that he was level.
Walters then tried his luck with a header from the centre of the box, forcing another save from Guzan.
The first half ended with a Gestede header saved by Butland and the referee’s whistle was greeted with boos, now a familiar sound at Villa Park, as Sherwood experienced the stormy waters his predecessors had navigated unsuccessfully.
It was unsurprising to see Grealish introduced for the second half, replacing Lescott, and the Villans switched to a 4-3-3 formation. However, the visitors remained very much in control, given far too much space by their opponents.
The inevitable killer blow came after fifty-five minutes when Johnson exploited the huge gap between Richards and Crespo by sliding a perfect pass through to Arnautovic who turned and slid the ball past Guzan and in off the post.
The home team could have drawn level a minute later but Richards missed a golden opportunity when he somehow managed to head Westwood’s excellent cross wide from the centre of the box.
Ayew then replaced Sinclair and the hosts improved – but not enough.
After sixty-seven minutes, Gestede registered his team’s first shot on target of the half with a right-footed effort that Butland saved in the centre of his goal.
Gil replaced Westwood after seventy-five minutes but the damage had been done and there was little for the Villa faithful to cheer apart from Veretout’s seemingly goal-bound effort that was blocked. The hosts certainly fought hard in the closing stages of the match and their desperation was plain to see, particularly in Richards’ comical dive.
The margins may have been fine once again but the points belonged to the Potters, who hadn’t won on the road since last visiting Villa Park in February.
Speaking post-match, Sherwood said:
“I am very disappointed, we needed to win the game at home to a team that we could have leap-frogged. We failed to capitalise and it was not good enough. I think a draw would have been a fair result: both teams were average.
The situation is getting worse. It is alright saying ifs, buts and maybes but we are not picking up the wins and that is why we are down near the bottom of the league. We are all in this together but as the manager I take all the responsibility.
I will use the international break to get my players fitter because they are not fit enough yet to play the way I want them to play. For some of them it will be like a mini pre-season.”
