Aston Villa produced a battling performance as their Boxing Day clash with Stoke at the Britannia Stadium ended in a goalless draw.

The claret and blues have not won an away game on the day after Christmas since a 2-0 win over Derby County in 1999 and, despite a much-improved second-half, a point was a fair result.

Substitute Nathan Delfouneso had Villa’s best chance shortly after half-time but goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen saved his close-range shot, while Marc Wilson saw his header from a corner cleared off the line by Gabby Agbonlahor in the 69th minute.

Villa boss Alex McLeish made two changes from the side which lost 2-1 at Arsenal, as James Collins and Emile Heskey were recalled to the starting line-up.

With Alan Hutton out through suspension Carlos Cuellar moved to right-back, as Collins partnered Richard Dunne in the centre while Stephen Ireland was dropped to the bench.

Darren Bent travelled to the Britannia Stadium but was not risked, despite training on the morning of the game having missed his third game with a injuries to his groin and thigh.

Stoke served notice of their intent to test Villa with their aerial power as long balls, throw-ins and corners were all launched into the box in the opening stages.

But it was Villa who went closest from a set-piece in the 21st minute when Charles N’Zogbia whipped a dangerous corner into the box met by Heskey and his glancing header rebounded back out off the near post.

Robert Huth showed good strength to climb highest in the penalty area five minutes later, but his header from a Dean Whitehead free-kick went over the crossbar.

A strong tackle by Ciaran Clark on Whitehead in the 40th minute set up a Villa counter attack, as Cuellar threaded the ball through to Stiliyan Petrov who saw his shot from a tight angle hit the side netting.

Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who claimed well off his line for the entire contest, had to be alert shortly before half-time as he came off his line to collect the ball at the feet of Kenwyne Jones, who chased on to a flick on from Jonathan Walters.

Heskey was withdrawn at the break having suffered a recurrence of an Achilles problem which has troubled him in recent weeks and was replaced by Delfouneso, who almost found the net with virtually his first touch of the game.

Agbonlahor spun Huth on the halfway line and outpaced the Stoke centre-back, before sliding a low cross in for Delfouneso who slid in to direct a shot on goal from close range, but Sorensen saved well to his right.

Stoke thought they had taken the lead in the 69th minute when Matthew Etherington’s corner was met by Wilson and his header crashed on the underside of the crossbar.

But Agbonlahor chested the ball off the line and the danger was cleared, although television replays suggested it may have crossed the line.

N’Zogbia saw his curling free-kick parried by ex-Villa keeper Sorensen moments later, but nobody players could react quickly enough to stab the loose ball home.

Stoke piled the pressure on in the remainder of the game, but Villa held on to claim their second point in four visits to the Britannia Stadium.