Aston Villa 0-1 Stoke: Marko Arnautovic's second-half strike compiles more misery on Tim Sherwood's struggling side 

Undoubtedly, for the sixth season in succession, Aston Villa are fighting against relegation. Tim Sherwood maintained ahead of this match that the campaign was too young to judge properly his club’s likely role.

He still believed that some comfort might be claimed by his squad in the months to come. As manager, thinking positive is essential. When the guy in charge allows creeping doubt the players pack it in.

But a fractious, scatty performance that ended with yet another defeat and fierce boos from the home crowd paints the picture of what lies ahead. Villa are plugged into the bottom three, four points from safety.

Marko Arnautovic celebrates after scoring for Stoke and piling the misery on Tim Sherwood's Aston Villa

The Austrian got on the end of a Glen Johnson threw ball to put the Potters ahead in the second half 

Villa players show their dejection after conceding the goal, which condemned them to a disappointing defeat

Mame Diouf and Arnautovic celebrate after thinking Stoke had gone ahead but the goal was ruled out for offside

Tim Sherwood has a dejected look on his face as his Villa side slipped to yet another Premier League defeat 

Having overhauled his squad in the summer following the significant losses of Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph, Sherwood is desperately struggling to mesh a team together. He admitted he is yet to find his best side.

Villa brought in 13 players during the summer window, a clutch of those alien to the intensity of Premier League football, and the signs of promise are difficult to establish.

Stoke, a cohesive unit accomplished at this level, were simply too savvy. Marko Arnautovic’s goal decided the game, but throughout a close encounter the feeling arose that only the visitors were capable of winning. A second victory in succession has dispelled that awkward start endured by Mark Hughes.

For Sherwood, the tide of good favour seems to have turned. It is not long since Villa supporters sang his name with glee after reaching the FA Cup final and surviving the drop.

Arnautovic was a constant threat on the wing and Villa had no answer for his pace when attacking the full backs 

Jack Grealish, who was brought on at half-time is surrounding by Stoke players as Villa struggled to break them down 

Glenn Whelan celebrates after Stoke claimed all three points at Villa Park and made it two wins in succession 

Diouf receives treatment from the Stoke medical team at the side of the pitch after banging his head 

Micah Richards holds his head after missing a golden opportunity for Aston Villa in the first half 

But here he was forced to stay head bowed during his walk from the dugout to tunnel as abuse was shouted his direction. Assistant Ray Wilkins appealed for calm.

Including two chastening defeats to Southampton and Burnley at the end of last season, Villa have lost eight of ten consecutive Premier League matches. The problem at this ground is endemic, however, this a 37th defeat in 74 Premier League games stretching back to December 2011.

Sherwood caused a surprise by picking Jose Angel Crespo for his debut in a three-man defence in an attempt to push wing-backs Jordan Amavi and Alan Hutton further forward to service Rudy Gestede with crosses.

He changed plan at half-time, introducing Jack Grealish and switching formation, but to little avail. Micah Richards should have equalised with a free header but directed the ball wide, and Gestede had to create his only proper opportunity himself, turning Phillip Wollscheid and forcing Jack Butland into a decent save.

PLAYER RATINGS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE STATS

 

Aston Villa (3-5-2): Guzan 6; Crespo 5, Richards 5, Lescott 4 (Grealish 46’ 5); Hutton 5, Gana 6, Westwood 6 (Gil 75’ 5), Veretout 6.5, Amavi 5; Sinclair 4 (Ayew 58’ 5), Gestede 6.5

Booked: Westwood

Subs not used: Bunn, Bacuna, Richardson, Sanchez

Tim Sherwood 6

Stoke City (4-2-3-1): Butland 6.5; Johnson 6.5, Cameron 6.5, Wollscheid 6.5, Pieters 6.5; Whelan 6.5, Adam 7; Walters 7, Bojan 6 (Afeallay 58’ 6), Arnautovic 7.5 (Van Ginkel 69’ 5); Diouf 7 (Joselu 86’)

Subs not used: Given, Muniesa, Ireland, Crouch

Mark Hughes 7

Att: 33,189

Referee: Mike Jones 5

MoM: Arnautovic

A run down of Arnatovic's goal at Villa Park - CLICK HERE for goals, heat maps and stats from our brilliant Match Zone

Jon Walters (right) and Jordan Amavi compete for the ball during the first half at Villa Park on Saturday 

Rudy Gestede (right) attempts to evade the attentions of Philipp Wollscheid, who had a solid game for the Potters

‘It was a poor performance,’ said Sherwood. ‘We will go back to work and do our best to put things right.

‘You can’t persevere with a team who haven't won. You have to keep jigging it around to find a solution and at the moment I haven't done that.

‘I am the manager and I have to take sole responsibility for the performance and the result. That's my job and I understand that fully.

‘I did everything in my power to put the players on the pitch to try to win the game. That's the way I always look at it, try to win enough games not try not to lose.

‘I'm still learning about the guys. They will take time to adapt. I wouldn't say time is running out but the clock is certainly ticking.

‘We are eight games in and it's disappointing. But I would rather be in the bottom three after eight games than bottom three with eight games to go.’

Stoke fans celebrate at the final whistle, as their side fought hard to defeat rivals Villa on Saturday afternoon

Jon Walters and Carles Gil clash during the second half as Villa tried to push for a leveller but to no avail 

Idrissa 'Gana' Gueye looks to nick possession off Diouf, as Sherwood's men slipped to yet another poor result 

In the first half Charlie Adam nearly replicated his Stamford Bridge spectacular with another outrageous hit from 65-yards, only for a backpeddling Brad Guzan to tip wide. Stoke then had a goal ruled out when Arnautovic was flagged offside, but replays suggested Crespo was level.

The goal came in the 55th minute. Glen Johnson fed the ball to Arnautovic, who drifted into space between Crespo and Richards he could probably scarcely believe. Guzan got a touch to his finish but the ball rolled in off the inside of the near post.

‘We did enough to win the game more comfortably than we did,’ said Hughes.