Leon Cort's second-half equaliser cancelled out an earlier effort from Blackpool striker Ben Burgess and helped leaders Stoke forge a slender one-point lead at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.

The Potters produced a dominant display throughout against Simon Grayson's side at the Britannia Stadium, but fell behind when Burgess netted his eighth goal of the season eight minutes before half-time.

But Cort kept Stoke's title tilt alive by hauling the sides level two minutes into the second period.

Mamady Sidibe also saw a headed effort hit the post and Richard Cresswell twice went close as the home side were left to rue their profligacy.

Stoke may now have only won one of their last six games, but continue to lead the way as their fellow promotion rivals also endure a slump in form.

Blackpool, meanwhile, are now five points clear of the relegation places after a dogged defensive showing.

A major traffic accident caused the kick-off to be delayed by 30 minutes - but when the game eventually got under way it was the hosts who started strongly.

Salif Diao volleyed just over from 25 yards with 50 seconds gone, and Sidibe headed against the post after rising to meet Paul Gallagher's fifth-minute free-kick.

Cresswell fired straight at Paul Rachubka from the edge of the penalty area shortly afterwards - and the former Preston forward somehow missed the target from six yards following Gallagher's inswinging left-wing corner.

Cresswell continued to look lively and drilled over from 20 yards on the half-hour mark, before Burgess broke the deadlock after 37 minutes.

Burgess broke from midfield before dispatching a low, right-footed 20-yard drive which appeared to take a slight deflection off Leon Cort before beating goalkeeper Carlo Nash.

The opening goal stunned Stoke, but they responded in the perfect fashion and hauled themselves level two minutes into the second half.

Gallagher's right-wing corner caused panic in the Blackpool penalty area and Burgess eventually headed the ball into the path of Cort, who volleyed home through a cluster of players from six yards.

Cort had barely finished celebrating his eighth goal of the season when he was forced to hobble out of the game with an injury and was replaced by Gabriel Zakuani.

Pulis also sent on Jay Bothroyd, on loan from Wolves, for his home debut in the hope of mustering a winner but chances were few and fair between after Cort's leveller.

With 17 minutes remaining, Chris Riggott headed Bothroyd's right-wing corner just wide while Claus Jorgensen skewed wide from fully 35 yards at the other end.

Jorgensen was then required to make a superb goal-line clearance in the last minute as he found himself in the right place, at the right time to hack Sidibe's header from a Gallagher corner to safety.

There was still time for Bothroyd to fire right-footed at Rachubka from 30 yards but both sides had to settle for a point.

Teams:

Stoke Nash, Griffin, Cort (Zakuani 54), Riggott, Pugh, Delap,Whelan, Diao (Wilkinson 9), Gallagher, Cresswell, Sidibe,Wilkinson (Bothroyd 65).

Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Parkin.

Goals: Cort 47.

Blackpool Rachubka, Crainey, Gorkss, Evatt, Barker, Hoolahan,Flynn, Jorgensen, Taylor-Fletcher (Holt 86), Burgess, McPhee.

Subs Not Used: Coid, Morrell, Fox, Welsh.

Booked: Jorgensen.

Goals: Burgess 37.

Att: 20,019

Ref: Mike Pike (Cumbria).