STRUGGLE CONTINUES AGAINST STOKE CITY: ASTON VILLA 0 – STOKE CITY 1 | Villa News www.villanews.net/Villa-News/struggle-continues-against-stoke-city-aston-villa-0-/ Having named a rather bizarre starting XI and opting for a 5-3-2 formation, all eyes were on Tim Sherwood as the match got under way. Both sides struggled to create goal-scoring opportunities in the opening minutes, even with some dubious defending on display at Villa Park.