Half-Time Report: Mame Biram Diouf header pulls Stoke City level with Aston Villa

Mame Biram Diouf's late header pulled Stoke City back on level terms with Aston Villa in the Premier League, with the sides drawing 1-1 at half time at Villa Park.

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After a lacklustre opening period, Stoke almost took the lead when Stephen Ireland connected with an Erik Pieters cross, leaving Brad Guzan to make a good save down low.

The chance spurred Villa into life and they soon went ahead through Scott Sinclair, who diverted a header into the top-left corner from Fabian Delph's delivery on 20 minutes.

The goal seemed to take the wind out Stoke and Victor Moses showed his side's frustration with a poor attempt from distance that was comfortably kept out by Guzan.

It appeared as though the hosts would take a 1-0 lead into the interval, only for Diouf to rise highest and head home from Ireland's cross right on the stroke of half time.