Narcis Pelach was spared a wall of full-time anger as Stoke City rescued a point in the final seconds of a dire yet dramatic scrap with Cardiff.

For a third game in eight days, Stoke saw an early 1-0 lead descend into a 2-1 deficit – and this time it was against a team who had been devoid of confidence, without a win in six and stuck in the bottom three before kick-off.

Andrew Moran had put Stoke in front when he followed up a rebound from close range but they were level before the break as Anwar El Ghazi beat the defensive line to tap in a deflected Joe Ralls cross inside the six-yard box.

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Neither team looked like they believed they could win it but Stoke had a miserable cocktail of not looking threatening in attack while looking vulnerable on the break. It was on one such counter that Cardiff found the lead. Andy Rinomhota bounded in from the left and his cross was turned in by Ben Gibson following a parry from Viktor Johansson.

Home supporters left in droves and there was anger around the stands – but then Lynden Gooch swung in a 94th minute free-kick and Gibson rose highest in a crowd of chaos to scramble Stoke to a desperate point.

Johansson had been the first keeper called into action. Callum O’Dowda found space down the left and his cross went through the box to set up nicely for Rinomhota, who had more time than he might have thought as he clipped a shot on target to be comfortably stopped.

Stoke took advantage to take the lead in the 17th minute when Tatsuki Seko fed Ben Wilmot to slide a pass to Manhoef, who drove across the edge of the area from left to right, dummying shots before firing one to the bottom right corner. Former Vale keeper Jak Alnwick couldn’t hold onto it and Moran was following up quickest to screech into the net.

Cardiff levelled when they made the most of space again down their left and Chris Willock got to the by-line. His cross was headed up by Seko for Joe Ralls to smash back into the six-yard box, taking a deflection off Seko for El Ghazi at the back. In real time, El Ghazi had been so far beyond the Stoke back line in that context that everyone was waiting for an offside flag but he had just had the run on defenders, even if that didn’t stop the assistant getting a lot of stick.

Stoke had a chance to regain the lead when Lewis Koumas stole the ball from Rinomhota down by the left corner flag and dashed into the area, curling past far post. Manhoef had a shot saved at the near post by Alnwick at the start of the second half before Yakou Meite struck the bar with a bouncing shot when he was left unmarked on the penalty spot after Cardiff worked the ball back in from a half-cleared corner.

Stoke were not attacking urgently enough for home supporters and Pelach tried to change things by swapping Koumas for Emre Tezgel although Manhoef, who had needed the physio on a couple of minutes previously, was then forced off to be replaced by Lynden Gooch. A series of bookings for Wilmot, Gibson and Ashley Phillips demonstrated how Stoke were resorting to cynical fouls to stop Cardiff counter attacks. They were struggling to find a way into the visitors’ box while always looking vulnerable on the break.

Sure enough, the next goal came for Cardiff. Rinomhota twisted Wilmot inside and out as he ran in from the left wing and his cross was pushed out by Johansson straight into Gibson and bouncing into his own net.

Stoke could barely muster a response until the fourth minute of injury time when Tezgel had a shot saved at the near post. That at least sparked a volley of dead balls and it was from the last, when Gooch took over responsibility from Seko, that Alnwick came punching thin air and Gibson got a vital goal at the right end. It is a get out of jail card for Stoke and no team gets many like it. The frustration here shows how much and how quickly they have to make it count.

Here are the player ratings from the bet365 Stadium:

Johansson: Important early stop against Rinomhota. Decision to push low cross went against him when it went straight back the other way. 6

Wilmot: Had ongoing battles with O’Dowda and Willock and was twisted inside out by Rinomhota for Cardiff’s second. 4

Bocat: Getting into useful positions in attack but lacking conviction. Lost the run for Cardiff equaliser. 4.5

Gibson: Resorted to some hopeful lumps upfield and caught out by another own goal. But stepped up when needed at the end with vital goal. 6

Phillips: Cut a frustrated figure at times but couldn’t dominate as much as needed. 5.5

Seko: A little bit sloppy in some of his passing and could be more positive in his choices 4

Moran: Excellent following in for opening goal. Used again in deeper role but eager to break forward and link with Manhoef. More anonymous as game went on. 5.5

Manhoef: Stoke’s main creative hope. Always looking to cut in and use his left foot, he forced opener for Moran and made defenders panic. Third assist in a week. 6

Koumas: Some useful turns of pace and went close after nicking ball off Rinomhota. A little raw occasionally. 5.5

Junho: Looks like he’s suffering a crisis of confidence at the moment, taking touches away from dangerous positions. 4

Cannon: Fired early half-chance over after Bocat through ball but didn’t have much to feed on. 4.5

Substitutes

Tezgel (for Koumas, 58): Some loose touches as he was the go-to option from the bench. Had to bury that injury time chance but at least put himself about. 6

Gooch (for Manhoef, 61): Added much-needed energy and his delivery set up equaliser at death. 6.5

Lawal (for Phillips, 79): A welcome sight as he made long-awaited Stoke debut, taking his place at centre-half.

Gallagher (for Junho, 79): Much-needed presence when he came off the bench for first appearance in two months following injury.

Not used: Bonham, Rose, Burger, Tchamadeu, Sidibe.

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