With nine goals conceded this season from corners before Boxing Day's clash, Aston Villa could have chosen better places to visit than the unforgiving bear pit that is the Britannia Stadium.
Stoke City’s most potent weapon is their ability to punish brittle defences from set-plays. Alex McLeish must have known he was in for an aerial bombardment.
Villa stood up to everything hurled at them admirably, setting the tone for a spirited first-half performance that maintained the form shown against Arsenal in their last game.
Even without Darren Bent for the third successive match - the forward trained but was not risked with a niggling thigh injury - Villa were more fluid in attack in a first half that would have not compelled viewers watching at home on television to stay tuned.
Gabby Agbonlahor, in particular, buzzed around with intent and menace.
Their best chance fell to Emile Heskey when Charles N’Zogbia floated over a wind-assisted corner and the forward headed the ball against the upright. Stiliyan Petrov also went close, drilling wide from a good position after a flowing move.
Stoke, without record signing Peter Crouch because of illness, struggled to create chances in the opening period.
Kenwyne Jones almost created an opportunity for himself after outjumping James Collins but was denied by a sprawling Brad Guzan.
On current form, the American goalkeeper has rendered the loss of injured Shay Given almost inconsequential.
Match details:
Stoke City (4-4-2): Sorensen; Woodgate (Pennant 70), Huth, Shawcross, Wilson; Shotton, Whitehead, Palacios (Delap 67), Etherington; Walters, Jones. Booked: Huth, Whitehead, Delap Subs: Begovic, Diao, Upson, Wilkinson, Jerome.
Aston Villa (4-4-2): Guzan; Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock; Albrighton, Clark, Petrov, N’Zogbia; Heskey (Delfouneso 46), Agbonlahor. Subs: Marshall, Ireland, Bannan, Weimann, Johnson, Gardner.
Referee: M Clattenburg
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