Villa’s Champions League challenge suffered a setback as they were held to a bore draw at Stoke.

In what was a low quality affair chances were few and far between at the Britannia Stadium, although the swirling wind did neither side any favours.

James Milner came close with a free-kick late on for the claret and blues, who remain seventh, while it took a stunning block from James Collins to deny Ricardo Fuller.

While the hard-fought draw was by no means a disaster for Martin O’Neill’s men, the result places further pressure on them to get a win at Wigan in the Premier League on Tuesday night.

O’Neill named the same side which beat Reading last weekend, with Gabby Agbonlahor left on the bench and John Carew starting alongside Emile Heskey.

James Collins got the game’s first sniff of goal on 17 minutes, rising highest to meet a Stewart Downing corner only to head just wide.

Down the other end, Collins’ former West Ham team-mate Matthew Etherington dragged a shot wide of the post from the edge of the area.

The first-half was punctuated by bookings for Villa players with Carlos Cuellar, Richard Dunne, James Milner and Stephen Warnock’s names all noted in referee Kevin Friend’s book.

Petrov did his best to take advantage of the unpredictable winds with a 30-yard drive, which tested ex-Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen after bouncing awkwardly in front of the Dane.

The second-half was only marginally more entertaining and once again there was little to choose between the sides.

Downing found the side netting within seconds of the restart following a mazy dribble and, on the hour, clipped a ball to the back post which was cleverly diverted back across goal by Richard Dunne but Heskey was unable to get on the end of it.

Stoke also had chances, Collins coming to Villa’s rescue on 73 minutes with a stunning last-ditch block to deny Potters sub Ricardo Fuller from close range.

Agbonlahor came on for Carew for the final 13 minutes but it was the home side who finished the stronger, Warnock sliding to divert a Danny Higginbotham shot away from goal.

Then Milner threatened with a free kick from the edge of the ‘D’ which curled just past the post.

Both sides had an opportunity in the dying seconds but, in keeping with prior events, Robert Huth wasted a free header and Ashley Young saw his shot deflected away for a corner.