Stoke City were denied their first win of the Premier League season after a 91st-minute equaliser from Salomon Rondon earned West Bromwich Albion a point from their trip to the Britannia Stadium.
For Baggies manager Tony Pulis, the return to a club he had managed for a decade had extra significance as it marked his 1,000th game in charge in English football.
There were few chances to speak of in the first half as Mark Hughes's side posed little attacking threat and West Brom sat back with the ball, much to the annoyance of the home fans.
The Potters came out after the break energised and Erik Pieters had a penalty shout turned down after an apparent foul from Matt Phillips in the box, before Peter Crouch was brought on for the ineffective Wilfried Bony.
Hughes's substitution almost brought immediate results as Crouch collected a Xherdan Shaqiri free kick but could only send it wide.
Stoke finally got their noses in front minutes later as Shaqiri's cross found Jonny Evans, whose headed attempt at a clearance instead met Joe Allen, who tapped home for his first goal in a red and white shirt.
With the full-time whistle fast approaching, Stoke looked to be heading for their maiden victory of the season but shortly after Hughes had brought off Allen and Shaqiri, Rondon was on hand to rescue a point for the visitors with an incisive header from a corner.
The result leaves Stoke with just two points from six games so far this season, albeit finally off the bottom of the Premier League table following Sunderland's late defeat to Crystal Palace.
Neil Wilkes
