ASTON VILLA 2 KODJIA DODGER Jon gets Villa out of jail

STOKE CITY 2

DEAN SMITH blasted his Aston Villa side’s defence after they twice shot themselves in the feet.

Stoke were allowed to snatch the lead twice in the second half – but Villa managed to repair the damage.

Both Villa full-backs were guilty of gaffes that directly led to goals.

Alan Hutton gave away possession cheaply for Stoke’s first goal then Ahmed Elmohamady recklessly conceded a penalty.

Smith’s men were grateful to substitute Jonathan Kodjia, who won the spot-kick that made it 1- 1 – then headed in the equaliser that levelled it at 2-2.

Villa boss Smith (right) said: “The performance was good – but the defending was sloppy. Our decision- making wasn’t good.

“We are a big draw and that is the best they’ve played. Joe Allen has been pivotal to that.

“It was a scrappy game. The conditions made it difficult. It was like a summer’s day in Stoke!”

Villa missed danger man Jack Grealish, ruled out with a shin injury, so they would have been pleased to net twice against committed rivals.

This was a battle in the dugouts of two men who cheered on Villa as kids.

Smith is openly a