It was a script straight from Hollywood.

With his team trailing at half-time, the previously absent manager makes a shock appearance for the second period and duly inspires them to victory.

But ,sadly for Villa, this was not the triumphant tale of Gerard Houllier’s surprise arrival to turn around his team’s fortunes.

No, this evening was to belong to Stoke and their manager Tony Pulis.

Just hours after the passing of his mother, Pulis emerged from the tunnel for the second half to a deafening roar from the Stoke supporters and how it galvanised his side, who turned the game on its head with two goals in the last 10 minutes.

While the win will have provided Pulis with a degree of comfort on this most distressing of days, it was incredibly harsh on Villa.

Harsh on Kevin MacDonald, who has nobly continued as caretaker despite being beaten to the manager’s job by Houllier – although his admissions afterwards suggested missing out has left its mark.

Harsh on the players, whose overall display deserved more – it would surely have been three points had Ashley Young added to Stewart Downing’s superb opener – and would have encouraged Houllier as he watched events unfold from his native France.

Harsh on the fans, who had passionately roared on their team to chants of “Gerard Houllier’s claret and blue army” and “Super Kev MacDonald.”

It could not be put down to Houllier’s absence or uncertainty, just one of those nights which by the law of averages comes along once or twice a season.

But such painful experiences never appear far away when the Potters lie in opposition.

Two years ago they grabbed a last-gasp winner in the corresponding fixture and who can forget ‘that game’ which led to Villa’s Champions League charge unravelling, when they scored twice in the last two minutes to snatch a 2-2 draw.

Still early in the season, the consequences are not so dire for Villa this time but it sure still hurt.

But considering they were left without a manager, just five days before the start of the campaign, six points from 12 is an adequate return.

It compares favourably against the records of Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton.

And who better to be their next opponents than a Bolton side who will arrive at Villa Park having conceded 13 times there in their last three visits?

MacDonald may opt for the magic of Stephen Ireland over the muscle of Nigel Reo-Coker against the Trotters, having stuck with the ex-West Ham man last night.

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 Kenwyne Jones, Marc Wilson made his first Potters appearance and fellow new boys Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jermaine Pennant were both among the subs.

Any Sunderland fan will tell you Jones can blow hot and cold but the £8million signing from the Black Cats was in the mood last night, eager to put on a show for his new fans.

It took a vital headed interception from Luke Young to deny him after Rory Delap had outfoxed Stephen Warnock, then after being sent clean through by Wilson, it was Brad Friedel’s turn to perform the heroics.

The opening 45 minutes was a period of two halves and, having found themselves on the back foot during the early exchanges, Villa suddenly sprang into life.

Their goal was one of real beauty as Agbonlahor, showing a new dimension to his improving game, picked out Downing at the back post with an exquisite cross and the winger found the one spot Thomas Sorensen couldn’t reach with a wonderfully-executed angled header back across the former Villa goalkeeper.

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

It would have been harsh but they have been given.

Villa ran the show until the whistle and it should have been two on 40 minutes when Agbonlahor’s pinpoint cross found the unmarked Ashley Young, just six yards out, who somehow headed the wrong side of the post.

Had that gone in things could have been so different.

It didn’t though and when Pulis re-emerged after the interval the footballing gods, you sensed, had a different script up their sleeves.

Having coped with the Potters’ threat reasonably well until then, Villa’s resistance was finally broken with 10 minutes remaining when Jones rose at the back stick to head home Matthew Etherington’s cross.

Still, a point at the Britannia is no disgrace these days and deep into the third minute of injury time they looked home and hosed.

That was until Pennant conned referee Lee Probert into giving a free-kick and from the set-piece Robert Huth cruelly crashed home another Etherington delivery.

As the final whistle blew Pulis raced for the tunnel, his work done.

For Houllier, it is all just about to start.

By Brendan McLoughlin