*New Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood’s reign began with a stoppage-time defeat by Stoke, the club’s sixth straight league loss leaving them second bottom.*

In the dugout for the first time since replacing the sacked Paul Lambert, Sherwood saw on-loan winger Scott Sinclair head in Fabian Delph’s cross.

Mame Diouf beat Brad Guzan from six yards to level before the break.

And Victor Moses’s 91st-minute penalty won it - with Villa’s Ron Vlaar shown a red card for bringing down the winger.

It meant a disappointing start for Sherwood, who was taking charge of his first Premier League game since May 2014 when, as Tottenham boss, Spurs beat Villa 3-0 at White Hart Lane.

Sherwood was dismissed by Spurs despite boasting the best top-flight win percentage (59%) of any Tottenham boss in Premier League history but his 11-month exile from the game ended when he was appointed Villa boss.

And for long periods, Villa did not look the side that had dropped into the bottom three after losing to Hull on 10 February.

However, Mark Hughes’s mid-table Stoke side had a point to prove after successive 4-1 defeats, against Blackburn in the FA Cup and at home to Manchester City in the league.

It looked as if the Potters’ troubles would continue when Villa took the lead courtesy of a powerful header by Sinclair, on loan from Manchester City.

After tangling with Phil Bardsley in the penalty area, Sinclair jumped to his feet and was perfectly placed to meet Delph’s left-wing cross and beat Asmir Begovic from eight yards.

The winger’s celebrations were nothing compared with his manager’s - Sherwood leaping around ecstatically on the touchline.
But Stoke levelled before the break when Diouf headed in Stephen Ireland’s centre for his seventh goal of the season. Guzan, making his 100th successive Premier League start, had no chance.

The visitors always looked the better side from then on and moments after Villa’s Ciaran Clark headed narrowly over, the away side won a stoppage-time penalty when Vlaar bought down Moses.

After the Villa captain was shown a second yellow card, Moses confidently converted from the spot to ruin Sherwood’s big day and ensure Villa stay in deep trouble.