Town fell to a disappointing defeat at Stoke's Britannia Stadium after appearing to have the game within their grasp. A first half Shtaniuk goal had put Stoke ahead, but a revival in the second half saw Matt Holland get the Blues back on terms before a breakaway goal from Andy Cooke gave the Potters the points.
Town lined-up as against FK Sartid on Thursday with the new strike partnership of Couñago and Armstrong continuing. The Blues lined up 5-3-2 with Fabian Wilnis retaining his place at right wing-back.
After a bright first couple of minutes from Town it was the home side who had the first chance, Andy Cooke having a shot charged down by Hermann Hreidarsson as the Town defence had the first of many shaky moments.
The Stoke side continued to press Town, whose defenders seemed to have trouble staying on their feet, Hreidarsson and Wilnis almost causing disastrous moments with slips.
The home side's pressure was made to count on 16 when they went ahead through Belarus international Sergei Shtaniuk. The defender headed on a freekick taken from just inside the Town half and sent it looping over Andy Marshall and into the net from the edge of the area. The ball forward ought to have been cut out by Hreidarsson while Marshall might have done better with Shtaniuk's effort.
As on Thursday Town were failing to get their passing going and by the 20-minute mark George Burley switch to 4-4-2. Stoke had clearly done their homework and as so often before the Blues found the opposition putting as many men as they could behind the ball when the Blues were in possession.
On 22 there was a scare for Town when Andy Marshall was beaten by a Mooney shot which just went wide, Cooke just too far away to put it in at the far post. Mooney was proving a real thorn in the Town side with Hreidarsson and Venus both having a difficult time of it against him.
Around the half hour the Blues had a couple of opportunities, Couñago going wide after Hreidarsson had found Ambrose with a good ball. A minute later Holland hit a shot wide, the ball failing to drop kindly for him from an Ambrose cross.
With seven minutes left on the clock a scramble in the Stoke area saw Couñago send keeper Cutler flying after the Spaniard had failed to control the ball. Ambrose also ended up on the ground but after treatment was OK to carry on.
With the away support becoming increasingly restless and some chants of ‘Burley, sort it out' audible, Couñago hit a wild shot over and then toe-ended a Wilnis cross well wide when he ought to have at least hit the target. Miller also might have got a touch on a Hreidarsson cross but the ball flew just over his head.
Town were booed off at half-time after their poorest first half of the season. The break saw Darren Bent warming up, but no changes from either side, despite numerous ideas being discussed on the terraces.
As the second period got under way Matt Holland was quickly in need of treatment after Tommy Mooney had collided with him as a cross was cleared. The rarely injured Town captain was briefly treated before carrying on.
On 49 Alun Armstrong was put away in space on the left in space with a number of players making their way into the area. With a low ball into the box looking the most likely option, he stopped, turned the ball onto his other foot and played it inside, the chance wasted.
A minute later he almost made amends when an improving Darren Ambrose crossed from the right, Armstrong stooping to head at the far post, but his effort hit a defender.
In the 52nd minute there were appeals for a penalty, although mainly form off the pitch when Jamie Clapham appeared to be shoved on the edge of the area. Referee Butler saw no foul, except for a later infringement by Tommy Miller.
The header against the defender was Armstrong's last contribution to the game and he was replaced by Darren Bent who joined Couñago in attack.
The match was by now being played largely in the Stoke half of the field, but on 56 Andy Cooke broke well on the right after Mark Venus, having a less than vintage day, had slipped over. Cooke crossed but Marshall grabbed well.
George Burley made a second substitution, Magilton replacing Miller in the centre of midfield.
Town were now resurgent with Bent's pace causing the Stoke defence trouble and Magilton organising things in Town's midfield. Couñago headed an Ambrose cross straight at Butler on 61 when had it gone either side of him it would have been a goal.
Two minutes later Bent hit a shot wide, then Holland hit one over the bar and the Town crowd felt a goal was just moments away.
And on this occasion this was correct, Ambrose beating a defender down the right and sending in a cross which Holland finished from just a yard or so out to put Town on terms.
It looked as if there would be only one winner from here, with Town first to everything and Stoke looking on the ropes. Cooke got himself in the book for a late and frustrated looking tackle on Venus who required lengthy treatment.
On 72 Bent ran onto a Wilnis ball forward and lobbed Butler, however, his effort dropped onto the roof of the net.
Town continued to look the most likely to score, Jamie Clapham drawing a great save from Butler with a shot to the keeper's right after fine work from Couñago to set the ball up for him.
On 76 Venus succumbed to the earlier challenge from Mooney, although a collision with sub Commons, which earned the Town number six a yellow card, hardly helped him. Wayne Brown took over in defence.
With Town looking odds on to score the game's next goal, once again they were felled by a sucker punch, Gudjonsson making a strong run down the right, crossing for Commons deep on the left who sent the ball back across goal where Cooke finished to put Stoke back in front.
The goal knocked the wind out of Town's sails and Jamie Clapham's woeful freekick sent yards over the bar was the nearest to a blue goal. After four minutes of injury time the whistle went, and boos resounded around the away end.
Another poor result against opposition Town should be having little trouble in beating and more pressure on George Burley. The first half performance was particularly poor with little passing of note and few chances.
For once substitutions were made with time for them to make a significant difference, and they did help get the Blues back on terms. However, with a number of defenders having nightmare afternoons, frailties at the back, especially on the break, gave the home side the points, something that has happened all too often over the years.
Last season Manchester City had a slow start to the season but still went up, however, other sides expected to be promotion hopefuls, notably Blackburn a few years back, have similarly failed to get going and have remained firmly entrenched in Division One.
Which path Town will take still remains to be seen this early in the season, however, they will have to get their act together sooner rather than later and a failure to win at home to Derby next Saturday will put serious pressure on manager George Burley.