U21s: Aston Villa 2-2 Stoke City

Aston Villa led twice but were made to settle for a draw against Stoke City in Premier League 2 on Friday night.

The Young Lions deservedly led 1-0 at the break thanks to Kyrie Pierre’s opener after 20 minutes.

Former Villan Ciaran Clark tapped home an equaliser shortly after half-time as the away side stepped up their game in the second half.

Villa retook the lead with 20 minutes left when Alfie Brooks failed to hold Aidan Borland’s drive, but their advantage was swiftly cancelled out by Jack Griffiths’ close range finish.

Both sides saw chances to grab a winner come and go before Finley Munroe was sent-off in stoppage time.

The hosts came into the match on the back of consecutive league wins but faced a strong Stoke team that included a trio of former Villans in Wesley, Clark and Daniel Johnson.

After a cagey start, the first clear-cut opportunity fell at the feet of Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, who blazed Kadan Young’s pull back over the crossbar.

Jimoh-Aloba quickly put the miss behind him and teed up the opening goal, sliding a through ball for Pierre, with the midfielder squirming a shot past Brooks.

Villa set about trying to double their advantage and saw Young’s shot deflected inches wide of the post following a driving run from the winger.

Stoke showed more attacking intention to close out the half but were unable to register a shot on Lander Emery’s goal as the first 45 minutes drew to a close.

The visitors had been on the back foot for the majority of the first half, but they pulled themselves level with a well-worked training ground routine from a corner.

A short corner was curled to the back post and then headed back across goal to the waiting Nikola Jojic, who saw his header saved before Clark tapped home the rebound.

Stoke were looking increasingly menacing in the attacking third and came close to taking the lead when Sol Sidibe flashed an effort just wide.

But it was Villa who forged ahead once again, benefitting from a mistake by Brooks as the ‘keeper parried Borland’s shot into his own net.

The lead lasted all of two minutes before City responded, with Griffiths blasting home from Sidibe’s cross at the back post.

Frankie Ealing sent a drive narrowly wide as Villa searched for a winner, but they were left holding on in stoppage time after Munroe was shown a second yellow card.