Frank Songo'o earned Sheffield Wednesday a late 1-1 draw with Stoke at Hillsborough to knock the Potters off the top of the Championship.Owls winger Songo'o, a loan signing from Portsmouth earlier this month, ensured a crucial point for Brian Laws' relegation battlers with a low 20-yard shot into the bottom corner in the 82nd minute.

Richard Cresswell had given Tony Pulis' automatic promotion chasers a half-time lead when debutant Stephen Pearson's goalbound shot from outside the area deflected in off the Stoke striker.

Wednesday started the day third from bottom, level on points with Leicester, but wins for the Foxes and relegation rivals Coventry leave Laws' side in the bottom three - albeit with two games in hand.

Stoke were a point clear at the top before kick-off but drop down to second, a point behind Bristol City who beat Norwich 2-1 at Ashton Gate.

The Potters, who have now only won one of their last seven league matches, handed debuts to both Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi and Derby winger Pearson.

Liam Lawrence returned from suspension, and Carl Dickinson was recalled to the starting line-up.

Laws named the same side that started in the home draw with Crystal Palace last week.

Jermaine Johnson returned to the bench following a four-game ban, alongside fit-again Steve Watson (hamstring) and new loan signing Bartosz Slusarski.

Owls striker Deon Burton dragged the game's first chance wide from 12 yards - but the visitors soon took charge, with Richard Cresswell twice firing into home goalkeeper Lee Grant's hands.

Wednesday defender Mark Beevers almost put his side ahead against the run of play in the 15th minute, but Potters goalkeeper Carlo Nash tipped the defender's powerful header round the post.

Wednesday defender Richard Hinds was forced off through injury in the 16th minute and replaced by Watson.

But Stoke made their pressure count five minutes later when Cresswell dispatched debutant Pearson's left-wing cross into the bottom corner, right-footed from 12 yards.

Songo'o saw his 20-yard shot rebound off Leon Cort, but Stoke continued in control - and Beevers did well to block Cresswell's angled drive.

Cresswell spurned a gilt-edged chance to add another to his tally shortly after the restart. But he mistimed his header when well-placed, and Grant comfortably gathered.

Stoke continued to look the more threatening side in the second half, but Wednesday responded just after the hour.

Graham Kavanagh and on-loan Chelsea striker Ben Sahar fired narrowly wide from outside the area, and Burton saw his 25-yard effort flash past the post.

Laws sent on winger Johnson for Wade Small with 25 minutes to go, and then Songo'o forced Nash into a smart save with another long-range drive.

Ameobi was forced out of the action in the 78th minute and replaced by midfielder Danny Pugh, but the visitors were dealt a bigger blow four minutes later.

Songo'o collected the ball outside the area and buried a fine 20-yard shot, low into Nash's bottom corner to set up a grandstand finish.

Johnson went close to snatching all three points for the Owls in the fourth minute of time added on, but his 20-yard effort was just off target.

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