THE Britannia witnessed its first blank of the season this afternoon - but it wasn't for the want of trying.
Both sides battled gamely to conquer the windy conditions to produce a game boasting more endeavour than thrills.
But there were still enough chances - particularly after Ricardo Fuller's 54th minute introduction - for either side to break the deadlock.
Stoke never paled by comparison to their Champions' League chasing visitors and a draw was the least they deserved from another highly competitive offering for their appreciative support.
Both sides sprung minor surprises at the start of play as Andy Wilkinson was dropped by Stoke to accommodate Danny Higginbotham's return from injury, while Villa boss Martin O'Neill declined to recall Gabriel Agbonlahor following his return to health after last weekend's virus.
Glenn Whelan, Stoke's other change after returning for Liam Lawrence, underlined his positive start by unfurling the first effort on goal with a shot over under pressure after Villa had struggled to master Rory Delap's first serious throw.
The blustery conditions were immediately causing problems as Whelan's free-kick was flicked on for Mama Sidibe to hook onto the roof of the Villa net from a tight and unfavourable angle.
Villa first threatened in the 17th minute when Ashley Young swung over a dangerous ball that Higginbotham headed behind for a corner from which James Collins glanced his header three yards past the far stick.
Another Delap throw was to pose problems at the other end, however, and when the half-clearance fell into no man's land there was Dean Whitehead rolling the ball back for Matthew Etherington to drag wide with a hurried effort.
Stoke's play was incisive and slick enough to induce three bookings for the visitors by the 25th minute.
But it was Villa provoking the day's first save when Stiliyan Petrov's dipping 25 yarder was shovelled awkwardly away from the base of his left-hand post by Thomas Sorensen.
There was plenty of huff and puff between both boxes from both sides, but little in the way of genuine goalmouth excitement approaching the final 10 minutes of the opening half.
Stoke were more than holding their own in the midfield exchanges thanks to the likes of Whelan - though James Milner escaped everyone's attentions momentarily to spin and drill into the Villa fans from the left corner of the Stoke area.
Etherington enjoyed similar luck when powering goalwards before unloading from distance and seeing his shot career comfortably off target.
Half-time: Stoke 0, Villa 0.
City were soon in trouble after the break when Stewart Downing scurried into rare space down the Villa left, but his shot on the run deflected off John Carew and flew the wrong side of Sorensen's right-hand post with the keeper diving the other way.
The wind chill factor remained high as the contest remained more competitive than inspiring - so no surprise that changes were rung by Stoke as early as the 54th minute as Dave Kitson replaced Sidibe and Fuller was preferred to Tuncay.
The Turk's withdrawal was met with hoots from the home crowd, while Tuncay himself waved away his manager's applause and hot-footed it to the tunnel.
Fuller was soon raising the temperature, however, by drawing would-be challenges from three defenders as he cut in-field before bobbling an off-balance effort into Friedel's waiting arms.
The American's handling and positioning faced a fuller test shortly afterwards when Robert Huth picked up a poor Collins clearance and thumped one powerfully goalwards.
The visitors were also having their moments at the other end, too, as Dunne squared one across the face of goal from a suspiciously offside position, Carew clattered a shot into Higginbotham at close quarters and Downing failed to control a Warnock cross from the Villa left.
City returned fire when Whelan controlled Friedel's clearance and released Fuller for a driven cross which the Villa keeper was happy to just beat away.
And Stoke were even closer in the 73rd minute after a free-kick was worked to Fuller for an eight-yard effort that would surely have hit the jackpot had Collins not thrown himself in the way.
The arrival of Agbonlahor with 13 minutes remaining re-awakened the visiting fans, but it was yet another Delap delivery posing problems as Friedel fisted clear admirably under immense pressure in the Villa goal.
Stoke remained on heat as another ball into the area wended its way beyond the far post for Higginbotham to crash his goalbound shot against the approaching Warnock.
City were visibly on top approaching the final five minutes and Friedel twice flapped at a high ball before it dropped for Higginbotham to slice well wide off balance.
But Villa threatened to spill late blood after Milner was tripped by Kitson and then curled his 22-yard free-kick barely a foot wide with Sorensen confidently waving the ball on its way.
Fuller stretched O'Neill's men for one last time with a shot on the run blocked for a corner - and Huth rose highest to head over what might have been a late winner from the subsequent flag kick.
The late drama then switched upfield as Young's driven cross was deflected over his own bar by a grateful Higginbotham.

TEAMS
Stoke: 29 Sorensen, 4 Huth, 22 Collins, 25 Ab Faye, 3 Higginbotham, 1 Whitehead, 6 Whelan, 24 Delap, 26 Etherington, 11 Sidibe, 20 Tuncay. Subs: 10 Fuller (for Tuncay,54), 12 Kitson (for Sidibe,54). Not used: 29 Begovic, 7 Lawrence, 12 Pugh, 28 Wilkinson, 42 Moult.
Aston Villa: 1 Friedel, 24 Cuellar, 25 Warnock, 5 Dunne, 29 Collins, 7 A Young, 8 Milner, 19 Petrov, 6 Downing, 19 Heskey, 10 Carew. Subs: 11 Agbonlahor (for Carew,77). Not used: 22 Guzan, 2 L Young, 4 Sidwell, 14 Delfouneso, 16 Delph, 23 Beye.
Referee: K Friend (Leices).
Att: 27,598.
Cards: Stoke -. Villa - Cuellar (foul,11), Dunne (foul,24), Milner (foul,25), Warnock (foul,56).