KYLE Lafferty thought he had reignited Burnley's play off push with an early goal, but Liam Lawrence's cruel 90th minute penalty salvaged a point for up-and-at-em Stoke.
Northern Ireland striker Lafferty had given the Clarets the perfect start against the high flying Potters with a cool finish.
But with the clock ticking down, Stoke sub Richard Cresswell fell far too easily in the box under Jon Harley's challenge and Lawrence denied the Clarets a hard-fought win from the penalty spot.
Even the goal had luck written all over it, as Lawrence's spot kick smacked the post and hit Hungarian goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly on the head before rebounding into the net.
Gabor's luck is out as the ball rebounds off his head for the equaliser
It was the cruellest of endings for Burnley, who were seconds away from ending Stoke's unbeaten 10-match home run.
Clarets boss Owen Coyle made several changes for their second away trip of the week, some enforced, others tactical.
Kiraly was preferred to Brian Jensen in goal, with giant Slovakian Stanislav Varga replacing suspended skipper Steven Caldwell in defence and partnering Clarke Carlisle for the first time.
In midfield Mark Randall was handed his first start for the Clarets for the injured Chris McCann and up front Robbie Blake returned, with Andrew Cole dropping to the bench.
And the Clarets made a sensational start, grabbing the lead in only the third minute. Ade Akinbiyi was alert to pounce on defensive slackness and fed James O'Connor, who spotted Lafferty in acres of space on the left.
The pass was perfection and the Northern Ireland striker coolly slotted the ball under debutant Carlo Nash for his fourth league goal of the season.
Kyle celebrates his goal with former Stoke favourite James O'Connor
Akinbiyi really should have made it two five minutes later, mis-kicking right in front of goal when Blake's deep corner was prodded back into the danger zone at the far post by goalscorer Lafferty.
Mamady Sidebe dragged Stoke's first chance woefully wide with 16 minutes gone and the Burnley defence began the game solidly.
And as the half progressed, a succession of hopeful balls into the Burnley box continued to be dealt with resolutely by a defence that was breached far too often at Hull in midweek.
Blake had a chance to display his dead ball ability as the half unfolded, but skied his 30 yard free kick into the banks of home fans.
And the fleet-footed striker weaved his way into a goalscoring position two minutes before the break, only to fire weakly at Nash.
The first real scare for Burnley came seconds later when Cresswell, up against former Preston team mate Graham Alexander, flashed a cross through everyone and out for a goal kick as Lawrence lunged in.
Stoke resumed after the break full of purpose and Ricardo Fuller, who had been kept on a tight leash in the opening 45 minutes, outfoxed Harley and volleyed straight into the midriff of Kiraly.
Fuller, who made nonsensical claims for a penalty just before the hour, then spurned City's best chance of the afternoon seconds later.
Escaping the clutches of Varga, he drew Kiraly but prodded his shot inches wide of the far post.
Alan Mahon, out since the end of January, replaced Randall in the 63rd minute.
The pressure though was mounting though and Kiraly had to be on guard to punch away Rory Delap's stinging 25 yard angled drive.
On-loan Blackburn striker Paul Gallagher was introduced by Stoke boss Tony Pulis with 20 minutes remaining and the home side growing in desperation.
And when Lafferty pulled up with cramp 11 minutes from time, John Spicer joined the fray - followed soon after by Cole, who replaced Akinbiyi.
Clarke Carlise's superb header over his own crossbar as City's aerial assault continued unabated.
But with time running out and Stoke now committing bodies into attack, Cole forced a fine save from Nash at his near post following good work from Spicer.
However, there was a sting in the tail and after Creswwell over ran the ball and fell under the weakest of challenges from Harley, Lawrence, after a spot of gamesmanship, took his kick at the second attempt and got the vital slice of luck to deny the Clarets all three points.
Stoke: Nash, Griffin, Riggott, Cort, Pugh, Lawrence, Diao (Parkin 84), Delap, Cresswell, Sidibe (Gallagher 70), Fuller
Subs: Simonsen, Shawcross, Wilkinson
Booked: Diao 35, Griffin 60, Lawrence 69
Burnley: Kiraly, Alexander, Carlisle, Varga, Harley, Elliott, J O'Connor, Randall (Mahon 63), Lafferty (Spicer 79), Akinbiyi (Cole 82), Blake.
Subs: Jensen, Unsworth
Booked: Lafferty 32, Harley 36
Ref: Howard Webb
Att: 18,432
