Man City defender Gareth Barry

Gareth Barry struck a late equaliser as Manchester City claimed a controversial draw at ten-man Stoke to move fourth in the Premier League.

Barry cancelled out a fine Glenn Whelan strike five minutes from time at the Britannia Stadium but Stoke thought they had won it in injury time when Ryan Shawcross headed in a Rory Delap throw-in.

But Roberto Mancini's men, who should have taken control after Abdoulaye Faye was sent off on 52 minutes, were reprieved as referee Alan Wiley spotted a foul on Shay Given.

It was a fortunate decision for City, who had struggled to deal with Stoke's unashamedly direct and physical approach throughout the second of three meetings between the sides in quick succession.

The same two teams, having drawn in the FA Cup fifth round last weekend, face each other again in the replay next week. Before then City face Liverpool, one of their chief rivals for that fourth place, and it was perhaps with that game in mind that Mancini rang the changes.

The Italian, already without Craig Bellamy and Carlos Tevez, further demonstrated the depth of his squad by leaving Wayne Bridge, Pablo Zabaleta, Stephen Ireland, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Martin Petrov on the bench.

Micah Richards, Javier Garrido, Patrick Vieira, Roque Santa Cruz and Johnson were the men to come in.

Stoke were robbed of the influential Matthew Etherington and the return of Faye after a back injury proved less than successful. But the Potters made life uncomfortable for their visitors from the onset.

Having equalised on Saturday from a trademark Delap throw-in, they utilised that same tactic four times inside the opening ten minutes. Twice Delap found Shawcross but the defender headed over and then had an effort cleared by Richards.

The third Delap throw was dealt with by Joleon Lescott and the returning Dean Whitehead shot over from the fourth.

City were also careless in conceding set-pieces around the box early on and one Liam Lawrence free-kick found its way through several pairs of legs only for Mamady Sidibe to shoot tamely at Given. Another Whelan delivery was cleared only as far as Whelan but the midfielder shot well over.

The visitors created only one half-chance for Santa Cruz early on but Danny Higginbotham blocked the former Blackburn man's shot.

Mancini was angered when Ricardo Fuller was not booked for a foul on Lescott in front of the bench but his pleas for a card fell on deaf ears.

Stoke had a great chance on 20 minutes when Faye met a Lawrence corner with a powerful header but Lescott headed away.

After 25 minutes of soaking up pressure, City finally created a clear-cut opportunity when a Richards cross was flicked on by Santa Cruz but Barry sliced horribly wide.

Stoke's next chance predictably came from a Delap throw with this time Robert Huth heading across goal.

City won a free-kick of their own when Emmanuel Adebayor was fouled outside the area but Santa Cruz volleyed wide from Johnson's delicate cross.

City went down the direct route themselves after the break and Adebayor caught the Stoke defence napping on 52 minutes as he raced onto a long ball from Given.

The Togo striker clearly had the beating of Faye and would have been clear on goal had the defender not dragged him down by the shirt 35 yards out.

Wiley consulted with his assistant before deciding on Faye's punishment but it came as no surprise when he brandished a straight red card.

City began to dominate possession but it was some time before their next opportunity, which fell to Adebayor after an attempted clearance by substitute Danny Collins, but he shot over.

Fuller then appealed for a penalty after claiming to be blocked by Barry, but Wiley played on. The Potters snatched the lead after 72 minutes following a break by Delap down the left.

The Irishman's cross was missed in front of goal by Fuller but Johnson sliced his attempted clearance into the path of the onrushing Whelan.

Given may feel he could have done better but Whelan's powerful 20-yard strike bounced just in front of him on its way into the bottom corner.

City at last roused themselves and hauled themselves level five minutes from time after a punt into the box was headed on by Adebayor.

Barry raced behind him to hook a shot onto the post but then reacted quickly to tuck home the rebound.

That was not the end of the action and Stoke thought they had won it when Given missed a Delap throw but Shawcross' header was disallowed for a foul on the keeper.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis fumed at referee Alan Wiley after his side fought out a 1-1 draw. Pulis was angered not only by Wiley's decision to disallow a late Ryan Shawcross winner at the Britannia Stadium but also by an alleged failure to spot a number of other incidents. Pulis did not refer specifically to any individual incident but was assumed to have been incensed by a moment early in the match when Patrick Vieira appeared to kick Glenn Whelan between the legs. The only major decision Pulis did not contest was the sending-off of Abdoulaye Faye for hauling down Emmanuel Adebayor early in the second half.

Pulis said: "When it was 11 against 11 I thought it was a good game. I thought we were on top, we created a lot of opportunities, a lot of chances. It was a good decision to send Abi off, but there were certain incidents that I am not too pleased with.

"I hope the referee, if he hasn't seen it, will show the FA. We had a player given a three-game suspension after an incident a couple of months back. The referee missed an incident, the FA looked at it and suspended him for three games.

"There were incidents in the first half with Man City players where I think it is as bad if not worse. It disappoints me. I am not asking for anything more than parity.'

Pulis was referring to the suspension of Potters defender Robert Huth earlier in the season after cameras caught him striking West Ham's Matthew Upson. On the City game, he continued: "The goal in the second half is a good goal. There is no doubt Ryan gets up. Look at (Kolo) Toure's reaction - his head is in his hands and he is on his knees. It is a good goal and why the referee has disallowed it I just don't know, and it is very disappointing for us.'

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini was the happier of the two managers after the draw lifted his side to fourth in the Barclays Premier League. But the Italian still felt his side should have made more of their numerical advantage.

Mancini said: "In the first half it was difficult for us because the ball was always in the air. But we fought very well and in the second half when we played with one player more we managed to play better. It is two (points) lost because we played 11 against 10 for 40 minutes. We must play better.

"We had many chances to score a goal but when we arrive in the box we must be more aggressive. You must have a chance and you must score a goal. I am disappointed with this result because when you play 11 against 10 you must play better.'

Stoke Sorensen, Huth, Shawcross, Abdoulaye Faye,Higginbotham (Collins 46), Delap, Whitehead, Whelan,Lawrence (Diao 60), Sidibe, Fuller (Beattie 80).
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Kitson, Pugh, Sanli.

Sent Off: Abdoulaye Faye (53).

Booked: Whelan, Fuller, Diao.

Goals: Whelan 72.

Man City Given, Richards (Zabaleta 81), Toure, Lescott,Garrido (Wright-Phillips 60), Adam Johnson (Petrov 86), Vieira,De Jong, Barry, Santa Cruz, Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Bridge, Onuoha, Ireland.

Booked: Vieira, De Jong, Barry.

Goals: Barry 85.

Att: 26,778

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).