A last-gasp goal from Michael Chopra prevented Stoke moving up into the Coca-Cola Championship play-off places as Cardiff nicked a 1-1 draw at Ninian Park.

Carl Hoefkens grabbed what looked like being the all-important opening strike after 30 minutes of a first half that the home side just about shaded but could not stamp their authority on the scoreboard.

The second half was an extremely tight affair with very few meaningful chances created, until Chopra struck to keep his side's own slender play-off hopes mathematically alive.

Cardiff's Peter Whittingham had the first real chance of the game after four minutes but his weak shot flew harmlessly over the crossbar.

Kevin McNaughton came closer six minutes later but his left-footed effort was punched clear by Steve Simonsen.

The Stoke goalkeeper was called into action again moments later when he had to act smartly to cut out a dangerous cross from Whittingham, after John Eustace had done well to block a Steven Thompson shot.

At the other end, David Forde saved a cross from Liam Lawrence, but the pressure was only temporary as the Bluebirds soared forward immediately for Paul Parry to head a Whittingham cross into the grateful arms of Simonsen.

Lawrence then saw another shot blocked for the Potters, by Roger Johnson, before Stephen McPhail and Thompson failed to hit the target from distance.

More Cardiff pressure followed in the shape of a Parry shot that cleared the crossbar, before the visitors took the lead against the run of play on the half-hour mark.

Vincent Pericard provided the opportunity from the right-hand side and Hoefkens guided the ball home from the edge of the penalty area.

The Belgian midfielder was shown a yellow card in the aftermath of the goal for leaving the field without permission but it will not have worried him too much.

Ricardo Fuller and Lawrence had chances to make it 2-0 but fired wide and over, respectively, while Forde did well to punch clear from Lawrence as half-time approached.

Joe Ledley opened the second half with a weak sht for Cardiff, while Thompson's shot was blocked by Jonathan Fortune.

Chopra tried his luck on 55 minutes but could not keep his shot down while, at the other end, Danny Higginbotham forced the save from Forde.

Simonsen made a couple of decent saves from Chopra and Thompson in the final quarter but Cardiff were struggling to create a real clear-cut chance.

That was until Chopra steered the ball home from close range with seconds remaining, after good work from Thompson.

Teams

Cardiff Forde, McNaughton, Purse (Gilbert 79), Johnson,Gunter, Whittingham, McPhail, Parry (Flood 60), Ledley, Chopra,Thompson.

Subs Not Used: Alexander, Feeney, Blake.

Goals: Chopra 90.

Stoke Simonsen, Fortune (Griffin 72), Higginbotham, Zakuani,Dickinson, Hoefkens, Eustace, Matteo (Russell 86), Lawrence,Fuller, Pericard (Paterson 76).

Subs Not Used: Hoult, Martin.

Booked: Hoefkens, Fortune.

Goals: Hoefkens 30.

Att: 11,664

Ref: G Laws (Tyne & Wear).