Darren Bent’s seventh goal for the club made it four Premier League games without defeat for Villa.

Kenwyne Jones put the Potters ahead after 20 minutes, as Villa succumbed to the visitors aerial bombardment, but the £18million man’s header just before half-time ensured a share of the spoils.

Gary McAllister deputised for manager Gerard Houllier on the touchline while the Frenchman recovers from illness and the assistant boss plumped for the same starting eleven that won at West Ham last week.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis made only one change after his side’s historic win in last weekend’s FA Cup semi-final, with Asmir Begovic replacing former Villa player Thomas Sorensen in goal.

Villa started the better and, with five minutes on the clock, Stewart Downing cut inside from the right to find space outside the box but the winger could not get enough on the shot and it was easy for Begovic.

But the hosts’ supremacy was short-lived. Pulis’ side were beginning to impose themselves on the game with a succession of corners and free-kicks that had the home supporters shifting nervously in their seats.

The pressure told and the visitors took a deserved lead in the 20th minute from a Delap throw in.

The midfielder launched it into the area and Jones rose above two Villa defenders to power a header past goalkeeper Brad Friedel for his third goal in three games.

Ten minutes before half-time, Ryan Shawcross timed a challenge exquisitely on the edge of his own area when Bent looked to be clean through.

Villa’s record-signing was beginning to looking lively and scored a wonderful goal to bring his team level.

Kyle Walker advanced down the right and crossed into an eighteen-yard box full of Stoke defenders.

Bent timed his dart into the area perfectly and nipped between Andy Wilkinson and Shawcross to zip a perfectly-judged header off the inside of the post and into the net.

Stoke forward Jonathan Walters had a goal disallowed off for offside within minutes of the restart, but Villa looked the more purposeful in the early stages of the second-half.

The home fans were incensed when visiting full-back Marc Wilson was only booked after clattering into Downing, who was taken off midway through the second-half to be replaced by Mark Albrighton as Villa pressed for the lead.

A well-worked move down the right released Nigel Reo-Coker who crossed for Emile Heskey, but the striker could not turn it home.

Stoke boss Pulis sensed danger and sent on Ricardo Fuller and Dean Whitehead to add a little more threat going forward but, four minutes from time, it was Villa striker Agbonlahor has the best chance to equalise.

A raking Albrighton cross from the left found Agbonlahor at the back post, but the striker couldn’t turn his header back across goal and Villa had to settle for just the one point.

By Stuart Hodge