O'Neill picks first-choice lineup

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill reverted to his first choice line-up for the home Barclays Premier League clash with Stoke.

O’Neill had left eight members of the first team out of his squad for the UEFA Cup tie with CSK Moscow in midweek.

But only defenders Curtis Davies, Zat Knight and Luke Young remained from the line-up beaten 2-0 on the plastic pitch.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis made one alteration from the side which shared the spoils with Portsmouth last weekend.

Ibrahima Sonko came into the first eleven in place of Abdoulaye Faye.