Joel Colwill’s goal on his maiden Championship start stopped the rot for Cardiff City as a 1-1 draw ended Stoke City’s winning streak.
The Potters looked on course for a third successive victory when Ben Johnson took advantage of some shaky Bluebirds defending in a first-half that would have concerned home fans.
But, staring at the prospect of a third straight defeat for the first time under Brian Barry-Murphy, Cardiff found the resolve to take away Stoke’s momentum – and were rewarded when Colwill headed home just after the hour mark.
The 21-year-old might have won it too, had it not been for the Potters’ post saving them from a second header from the midfielder soon after.
Still, it will have frustrated Mark Robins, whose side had looked well placed for a first away win since January, though they did gain their first away point of the season.
They had chances to do just that via George Hirst and Robert Bozenik with Cardiff looking short of confidence at the back.
In attack, the hosts looked promising and could threaten until reaching the edge of the area.
But Ollie Tanner wasted early openings, hitting the post on eight minutes and then failing to steer an Alex Robertson cross on 22 minutes.
It was punished soon after as a hopeful hook from Robert Bozenik saw Johnson bully his way past Joel Bagan to force home his first since joining on loan from Ipswich Town last month.
With home nerves jangling, George Hurst could have taken the game away from Cardiff when he went through on goal six minutes after the restart, Nathan Trott making a crucial save.
Cardiff responded and grew into the game, to the extent that when Chris Willock provided the right cross for the unmarked Colwill, it was a deserved equaliser.
Colwill was free again to meet a second Willock cross only for the upright to deny him and they had further chances to secure a first home win of the season with a late Yousef Salech miss and Jack Moylan’s deflected shot hitting the post.