Aston Villa and Stoke City have played out a goalless first 45 minutes in their Premier League clash this afternoon.

Stoke started the game brightly, and could have taken an early lead when Jonathan Walters found Mame Biram Diouf in the Villa penalty area, but Micah Richards raced back to block the Senegalese striker's effort on goal.

The visitors dominated much of the first half, as Marko Arnautovic cut inside from the left to fire over the bar, before Charlie Adam attempted to score from his own half, only for Villa keeper Brad Guzan to prevent the ball from finding the back of the net.

Stoke continued to press Villa but were unable to find an opening, as Diouf headed over from an Arnautovic cross, before the Austrian fired past Guzan after completing a one-two with Bojan, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Villa mustered an effort before the break, as Idrissa Gueye struck from distance after beating a couple of Stoke defenders, but his effort went high and wide.