Stoke earned their first points of the season as they came from behind to defeat Aston Villa 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium. Two goals in the last ten minutes from the Potters, the winner arriving deep into stoppage time, stunned Villa who started brightly but faded allowing Stoke to capitalise.
Villa enjoyed their best spell towards the end of the first half and deservedly took the lead with Stewart Downing's diving header.
But the visitor's failed to make the most of their fortune and allowed the hosts back into the game after the break.
The drama began when Matthew Etherington crossed for Kenwyne Jones to head an 80th-minute equaliser.
Still Stoke pressed for a winner and it duly arrived three minutes into added time as substitute Jermaine Pennants free kick found its way through to Robert Huth who sent the home fans into raptures with his far post finish.
Stoke scorers: Jones 80, Huth 93 Aston Villa scorers: Downing 35
Referee: Lee Probert Assistant referees: Simon Beck & Stephen Child Fourth official: Anthony Taylor
Venue: Britannia Stadium, Stoke City Attendance: 25,899
STOKE CITY 29 Sorensen 04 Huth 05 Collins (yellow card) 17 Shawcross 25 Faye 12 Wilson (Pennant 65) 18 Whitehead 24 Delap (Whelan 87) 26 Etherington 09 Jones 19 Walters (Fuller 61)
Substitutes 01 Begovic, 03 Higginbotham, 28 Wilkinson, 06 Whelan, 16 Pennant, 07 Gudjohnsen, 10 Fuller
ASTON VILLA 01 Friedel 02 L Young 03 Warnock (yellow card) 05 Dunne 29 Collins 06 Downing 07 A Young 12 Albrighton 19 Petrov (yellow card) 20 Reo-Coker 11 Agbonlahor (Heskey 86),
Substitutes 22 Guzan, 23 Beye, 24 Cuellar, 47 Clark, 09 Ireland, 50 Hogg, 18 Heskey
