Late goals from Kenwyne Jones and Robert Huth broke Villa hearts as Stoke came from behind to clinch a dramatic win at the Britannia Stadium.

Stewart Downing had given Villa the lead with a brilliant diving header after 35 minutes and the claret and blues, without new manager Gerard Houllier while he finalises his departure from the French Football Federation, had looked fairly comfortable.

But an 80th-minute header from Jones, making his home debut, and Huth’s injury-time close-range effort turned the game on its head to leave Villa stunned.

It was harsh on Villa and caretaker Kevin MacDonald, whose players had given a good account of themselves prior to the goals and were deserving of at least a draw.

Had Ashley Young converted a gilt-edged opportunity to make it 2-0 before the break, it could have been a very different story.

Incredibly, neither side kicked off with their manager in the dugout with Stoke manager Tony Pulis absent due to the death of his mother.

MacDonald made one change from the side which beat Everton a fortnight ago, bringing in Gabby Agbonlahor for John Carew, who was not fit enough to make the squad.

Stoke gave a home debut to Jones, Marc Wilson made his first Potters appearance while fellow new boys Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jermaine Pennant were both among the subs.

The Potters began purposefully and Villa quickly found themselves on the back foot.

After 10 minutes it took a vital headed interception from Luke Young to deny Jones, after Rory Delap had outfoxed Stephen Warnock.

Then a minute later the former Sunderland striker was sent clean through by an outstanding probing pass from Wilson, only to be thwarted by the onrushing Brad Friedel.

The goalkeeper then did well to beat away Jones’ 25-yard volley but Villa began to get a foothold in the game.

As so typical of them on their travels in recent seasons, they snatched the lead against the run of play as Downing headed home Agbonlahor’s exquisite cross with a finish to match.

Just two minutes later the Potters were furious not to be given a penalty when Collins and Jones challenged for a header in the Villa box and the ball caught the Welshman’s arm.

But it was all Villa from there until half-time.

It should have been two on 40 minutes when Agbonlahor curled in another devilish cross bang on to the head of Ashley Young, just six yards out, who somehow headed the wrong side of the post.

Villa kept up the pressure with Collins seeing a close-range effort blocked well by ex-Villan Thomas Sorensen and the Dane did well to palm away another Downing back-post effort from Marc Albrighton’s fine cross.

Stoke had been on the ropes but they were buoyed by the arrival of Pulis for the second-half – the Potters chief receiving a standing ovation from the Britannia Stadium crowd.

Chances were less frequent but the home side had the better of it – Jones, a menace throughout, seeing another powerful header kept out by the excellent Friedel.

Down the other end, Nigel Reo-Coker almost capitalised on a sloppy backpass from Ryan Shawcross only for Sorensen to clear his lines just in the nick of time.

Villa had dealt with the Potters’ threat well and looked fairly comfortable until a bolt from the blue with 10 minutes remaining, when Jones rose at the back stick to head home Matthew Etherington’s cross.

It took a fine reaction save from Friedel to keep out substitute Ricardo Fuller’s fierce drive, but Huth was to have the final say on matters with virtually the last kick of the game.