VIDEO: Tim Sherwood gutted by late loss
Manager Tim Sherwood admitted he was "bitterly disappointed" after Villa were beaten by a 91st minute goal in his first game in charge.
Villa had led through Scott Sinclair only for Mame Biram Diouf to level for Stoke City just before the break, which left both teams heading for a point.
That was until Victor Moses was inexplicably clattered by home captain Ron Vlaar - who was sent off - with the winger dusting himself off to convert the penalty at the death.
Defeat kept the hosts in the bottom three of the Premier League and underlined the job Sherwood has to keep them in the Premier League.
He said: "It's bitterly disappointing for everyone associated with this football club. I didn't think we started fantastically well. But we got the goal.
"There was a little scramble in the six yard box. We might have made it two. But we switched off just before half-time and conceded and it knocks the stuffing out of you just before the break.
"With the second-half, the longer it went on, I just thought it would peter out into a draw. I thought neither team was going to win it.
"To go so late into the game and concede the penalty is obviously very, very disappointing. It's a work in progress with a lot of work needed to be done.
"I was encouraged with some performances - Scott Sinclair and the two centre-halves were good, Kieran Richardson was lively and Alan Hutton was a threat on the right hand side.
"We need to work on it and continue to get on the ball. We need to be brave and go and get the ball and try and affect the football match.
"I am sure we have the quality in the squad. It's just about putting the right jigsaw together at certain times to win the games.
"But it was a cruel way to lose the match. At the end, I thought neither team deserved to win. I was devastated. No-one feels as down as I am.
"The challenge is to win football matches and get the best out of the group of players. We will get on the training field on Monday now. We have to put this behind us now.
"We can't dwell on it. I can be devastated now, but I won't be devastated on Monday. We need to move on. Games come thick and fast."
