Substitute Chris Iwelumo's last-gasp equaliser rescued Stoke a deserved point at Selhurst Park.

After a dire opening period, David Connolly's 14th goal of the season eight minutes from time looked enough to condemn Stoke to defeat.

But Iwelumo's looping header on 88 minutes snatched an unlikely point for Tony Pulis' men.

Wimbledon boss Stuart Murdoch opted to name the same side which slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Walsall last weekend.

Pulis welcomed back James O'Connor from suspension but had to make do without the services of the suspended Brynjar Gunnarsson and Wayne Thomas.

Peter Hoekstra recovered from the hamstring strain which kept him out of action against Portsmouth last Saturday as the Potters looked to secure their first victory in 15 games.

But it was Wimbledon who began the contest the stronger, and in-form striker Connolly came close to scoring when his 20-yard left-footed strike went narrowly wide 10 minutes.

Promising youngster Joel McAnuff was also in the thick of the action, and his speculative long-range drive fizzed past the left-hand post shortly afterwards.

But after a slow start Pulis' men edged their way into the match.

Lewis Neal had the Potters' best chance of the half, but his wayward strike from 10 yards failed to trouble Dons goalkeeper Kelvin Davis.

Dons dominant

His opposite number Steve Banks was forced into a superb stop just before the break when Jermaine Darlington's 25-yard strike seemed destined for the back of the net.

Wimbledon began the second half with purpose.

Neal went close with an excellent strike from long range for the visitors, before Neil Shipperley spurned a glorious chance to open the scoring when he sent his close-range strike wide after some good work from McAnuff.

The home side had raised their game, and victory looked assured when Connolly scored on 82 minutes.

A hopeful ball into the danger area found the head of Shipperley, who deftly flicked the ball on to the striker to unleash his marvellous strike into the top corner.

But then Iwelumo - who had replaced the injured Andrew Cooke earlier in the half - snatched a dramatic equaliser.

Wimbledon: Davis, Darlington, Williams, Leigertwood, Hawkins, McAnuff, Francis, Andersen, Reo-Coker, Shipperley, Connolly. Subs: Willmott, Agyemang, Heald, Gray, Tapp.

Stoke: Banks, Henry, Handyside, Shtanuk, Marcus Hall, Gudjonsson, O'Connor, Marteinsson, Neal, Hoekstra, Cooke. Subs: Cutler, Greenacre, Iwelumo, Wilson, Vandeurzen.

Referee: S Baines (Derbyshire).