Liam Lawrence held his nerve to convert a last-minute penalty and help promotion contenders Stoke earn a deserved point against Coca-Cola Championship rivals Burnley.

Kyle Lafferty's first goal in 2008 had looked to be enough for the Clarets at the Britannia Stadium before Lawrence scored his 14th goal of the season late on to level in dramatic fashion.

Goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly had produced a string of fine saves to justify his recall to the Burnley team and frustrate the home side, but was powerless to keep out Lawrence's spot-kick.

The Potters, who topped the table a fortnight ago, are now second after recovering from back-to-back defeats at the hands of Preston and QPR. Burnley are 10th.

Experienced goalkeeper Carlo Nash only joined the Potters on loan from Wigan on Tuesday and endured a nightmare start as Lafferty broke the deadlock early on.

Mark Randall broke from midfield before former Stoke midfielder James O'Connor set up Lafferty to fire low past Nash from 18 yards to register his first goal since mid-December.

Another ex-City man on show, Ade Akinbiyi, then missed a gilt-edged chance to double Burnley's lead five minutes later.

Akinbiyi was guilty of missing an open goal in last Saturday's 2-2 draw with Watford, and was again left to rue his profligacy as he somehow fired Robbie Blake's left-wing corner straight at Nash from close range when it seemed easier to score.

Kiraly denied Salif Diao and Leon Cort before the interval as Stoke fought for an equaliser.

After the restart, Rory Delap steered Lawrence's right-wing corner over from just outside the penalty area before Kiraly, back in the Burnley side at the expense of Brian Jensen, twice denied Richard Cresswell.

The former Crystal Palace goalkeeper first kept out Cresswell's 18-yard volley before saving his weak header moments later.

Cresswell shot wide from 12 and 25 yards either side of the hour before Randall, on loan from Arsenal, departed injured and was replaced by Alan Mahon.

Burnley continued to soak up sustained pressure from the hosts as Danny Pugh curled a 25-yard free-kick straight at Kiraly after O'Connor had upended the lively Cresswell.

Pulis introduced Paul Gallagher at the expense of Mamady Sidibe with 20 minutes remaining in the hope of mustering a goal but neither side looked likely to score as the game petered out.

Burnley boss Owen Coyle had the luxury of bringing on veteran striker Andrew Cole late on in replace of Akinbiyi while Lafferty made way for John Spicer.

With six minutes remaining, Andy Griffin shot over the bar from 20 yards while at the other end Cole was denied by Nash from six yards.

Stoke were then gifted a lifeline in the last minute as Jon Harley bundled over Cresswell and Lawrence drilled home from the penalty spot with ease to earn a share of the spoils.

Teams:

Stoke Nash, Griffin, Riggott, Cort, Pugh, Lawrence, Diao (Parkin 84), Delap, Cresswell, Sidibe (Gallagher 70), Fuller.

Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Shawcross, Wilkinson.

Booked: Diao, Cresswell, Lawrence.

Goals: Lawrence 90 pen.

Burnley Kiraly, Alexander, Carlisle, Varga, Harley, Elliott, James O'Connor, Randall (Mahon 63), Lafferty (Spicer 78), Blake, Akinbiyi (Cole 81).

Subs Not Used: Jensen, Unsworth.

Booked: Lafferty, Harley.

Goals: Lafferty 3.

Att: 18,432

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).