*Marko Arnautovic scored the only goal to give Stoke a second successive win and leave Aston Villa cut adrift in the Premier League relegation zone.*

Arnautovic, who also had an effort ruled out for offside, exploited a huge gap in the Villa defence early in the second half to finish off the post.

Villa created little bar a credible Jordan Veretout appeal for a penalty.

Tim Sherwood’s side have not won since the opening day and lie 18th, four points from safety.

*Muddled Villa?*

Sherwood said after last week’s defeat at Liverpool that his team were already in a relegation battle and, in an attempt to turn the tide, opted for a change of system.

Jack Grealish, who pledged his international future to England this week, was left on the bench as Sherwood employed a wing-backs system, one that left the hosts’ forwards short of service.

When Grealish was introduced for Joleon Lescott at half-time, Villa reverted to a back four, with centre-halves Micah Richards and Jose Angel Crespo separated to provide space for Arnautovic’s goal.

Villa may be right to feel aggrieved that they were denied a penalty when Cameron clumsily challenged Veretout in the first half, but, in truth, they were toothless for large periods, managing only two shots on target.

They are without a win at home all season and have taken only 71 points from their last 74 games at Villa Park, a run that dates back to December 2011.

*Stoke improvement continues*

Some eye-catching summer recruitment saw Stoke bring in the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, Ibrahim Affelay and Glen Johnson to the Britannia Stadium, but an early run of six games without a win did not match the pre-season optimism.

However, on the back of victory over Bournemouth last week, Stoke claimed their third successive win at Villa Park and extended an unbeaten run at Villa that goes back to 2009.

Without the injured Shaqiri, the trio of Arnautovic, Bojan and Jon Walters inter-changed behind Mame Biram Diouf to create regular problems for the Villa defence, while at the other end a solid rearguard resulted in the Potters’ first clean sheet of the season.

Arnautovic was perhaps unfortunate to have a first-half effort ruled out - he looked to be level with the last defender before volleying past Brad Guzan - but there was no doubt about his second-half strike, played into space by Johnson before finishing from the corner of the six-yard box.

The only sour note for City was a late injury to Diouf, who left field on a stretcher.

*Adam almost does it again*

Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam found the net with a wonder goal against Chelsea in April, collecting the ball inside his own half and lobbing Thibaut Courtois from 65 yards.

The Scot almost embarrassed Guzan in similar fashion, unleashing a left-footed effort from deep inside his own half, not even as far advanced as the centre circle.

Guzan just managed to scramble back, leaping to tip the ball around the post.

“It was on and I felt it might have been close. I thought it was in and he did well to get back,” said the Scot.

Adam has now provided the goalkeepers of the Premier League with plenty of warning about wandering off their line.