Daryl Murphy ensured Sunderland's push for automatic promotion remained on track with an 89th-minute equaliser against promotion rivals Stoke at the Stadium of Light.

The second-half substitute lashed a first-time volley past Potters goalkeeper Steve Simonsen to extend the Black Cats' unbeaten run in 2007 to 12 games.

Stoke had taken the lead midway through the first half as Sunderland goalkeeper Darren Ward let an innocuous long-range strike from Darel Russell slip underneath his body.

But Dean Whitehead spared his blushes with an equaliser just a minute later as Sunderland got the goal their enterprising first-half display merited.

However, the visitors restored their lead in first-half stoppage time through Carl Hoefkens.

There was a return to the Sunderland starting XI for Swedish winger Tobias Hysen, who was axed for the weekend win over Barnsley after being late for the team coach to South Yorkshire, while the visitors boasted former Black Cats winger Liam Lawrence in their ranks.

Sunderland started in buoyant mood and threatened after just six minutes when Grant Leadbitter burst forward from just inside the Stoke half, but his cross towards the unmarked David Connolly was expertly cleared by the covering Danny Higginbotham.

But after 22 minutes the visitors took a fortuitous lead through Russell's sixth goal of the campaign.

The midfielder let fly with a shot from the edge of the area, but stopper Ward failed to deal with it and fumbled it into the bottom corner.

Stoke's joy was short lived, though, as Sunderland's dynamic skipper restored parity almost immediately.

Leadbitter's searching cross from the right wing was brilliantly chested down into Whitehead's path by Connolly and he drilled a low half-volley past the despairing dive of Simonsen.

The Stadium of Light was rocking and only a wonderful save from Simonsen stopped the home supporters from celebrating again two minutes later.

The lively Connolly fed an intricate ball into the path of the marauding Hysen, but the onrushing Simonsen got down well to block his flicked effort.

Stoke came close with a Mamady Sidibe overhead kick after 35 minutes, while Sunderland threatened again through Stern John.

The Trinidad and Tobago striker capitalised on Higginbotham's indecision over a massive goal kick from Ward, but when faced with the imposing sight of Simonsen he was only able to lift his lob over the crossbar.

John was made to pay the ultimate price for his wasted opportunity as Hoefkens took full advantage of confusion in the Sunderland defence to fire a crisp half-volley into Ward's bottom corner for his first goal of the campaign.

Sunderland started the second half brightly, but it was the visitors who came closest to scoring as both substitute Ricardo Fuller and Russell saw long-range shots fly narrowly over Ward's crossbar.

Whitehead wasted a golden opportunity to net his second equaliser of the game after 66 minutes when his volley from 12 yards trickled just wide of Simonsen's right-hand post.

Stoke were inches away from putting the game out of Sunderland's sight in the 74th minute as Sidibe's impudent back-heel ricocheted back off Ward's post.

But just as Stoke looked like they would hold firm for a crucial three points Murphy stepped up to claim a share of the spoils.

Teams:

Sunderland Ward, Simpson, Nosworthy, Evans (Wallace 46),Collins, Leadbitter, Whitehead, Yorke (Liam Miller 68), Hysen,John (Murphy 55), Connolly.

Subs Not Used: Fulop, Tommy Miller.

Booked: Simpson, Collins, Liam Miller.

Goals: Whitehead 24, Murphy 90.

Stoke Simonsen, Hoefkens, Zakuani (Dickinson 82),Higginbotham, Griffin, Lawrence, Diao, Fortune, Russell,Sidibe (Eustace 86), Parkin (Fuller 61).

Subs Not Used: Hoult, Martin.

Booked: Lawrence, Hoefkens.

Goals: Russell 22, Hoefkens 45.

Att: 31,358

Ref: M Jones (Mansfield).