Sports.com Match Report..
Stoke shaped up as play-off winners for the first 45 minutes but ended up hanging on to a point.
They used their quota of three substitutes but allowed an experimental Bristol team to hit back with an equaliser.
Even so, Marc Goodfellow whose pace always worried defenders, could have won it for Stoke in added on time, but was denied by a superb save from keeper Steve Phillips.
Bristol had not won in the last eight meetings between these sides, and in a slick first half Stoke could easily have been out of sight.
Gianni Gudjonsson 's speed was the decisive factor. He was always running into space and carrying the ball forward, but with the play-offs in mind, was rested for the second half.
John Miles, a recent signing from Liverpool, came on for his Stoke debut and looked impressive in a defensive midfield role.
Bristol, who had listed five senior players, brought in youngsters Darren Jones and Craig Woodman to play alongside Mark Lever in defence.
As they settled in, their inexperience gave Stoke a big early advantage. Stoke looked physically stronger and had more confidence on the ball.
When they went ahead after 16 minutes, it looked as if it would be the first of several.
Two defenders went for the ball but were beaten in the air by Chris Iwelumo, who flicked the ball on to the speedy Andy Cooke who went on to steer his shot around keeper Steve Phillips.
His pace all over the field was keeping Stoke moving forward but he picked up an injury soon after the break and was replaced on the hour.
Soon after Cooke's goal, Iwelumo could have made it 2-0 but the transfer listed Lever lunged into a rescuing tackle at the cost of a corner.
Stoke needed a second goal, but although Cooke and Marc Goodfellow looked as if they might provide one there were not enough shots going in to worry Phillips.
Bristol's Christian Roberts, a recent £100,000 buy from Exeter City, had a disappointing afternoon, missing several chances in his search for a first goal for his new club.
Once when he was put through after a strong run by Woodman he shot wide when a square pass to the unmarked Lee Peacock may have brought a better reward.
But Bristol got the point they deserved in the 68th minute.
Teenager Liam Rosenior, with his first touch after coming on as a substitute, timed a perfect ball through to Aaron Brown who raced clear to knock his shot wide of Cutler for his first goal of the season.