Jurgen Vanduerzen's fluke goal saw Stoke City nick a point at Reading, despite the visitors being outplayed for most of this clash of last season's promoted teams.
Reading created the better chances and their 12th minute goal from striker Anthony Rougier, his fourth in 85 appearances, was the least they deserved from the game.
But Alan Pardew's side were dealt a cruel blow in the 39th minute when Vanduerzen levelled thanks to huge slice of luck.
There looked little on when the Belgian midfielder picked up the ball 35 yards out on the left touchline.
So he headed inside and went for goal only for his wayward shot to take a massive deflection of Adie Williams to wrong-foot Marcus Hahnemann and fly into the net.
"The only down side for us was their goal," said Royals manager Pardew. "It was a real sickener.
"I was pleased with the performance because we hadn't played well at home recently. We did against Stoke but it didn't really fall for us."
Stoke created the first chance of the game in the opening minutes but Andy Cooke could only head straight at Hahnemann from point-blank range.
And the visitors were quickly made to pay for the miss when Rougier took one touch to control John Salako's cross before lashing his shot into the far corner from 15 yards.
But Vanduerzen fired Stoke level again before half time though Steve Cotterill's side were soon on the back foot once more.
Star man Hughes danced passed four Stoke players on his way to goal and although his clever 52nd minute shot beat Neil Cutler, captain Peter Handyside was there to bail his side out with a goal-line clearance.
Then Jamie Cureton nearly caught out Cutler with a lob that flew inches over the bar.
However, Stoke nearly grabbed a dramatic 75th minute winner themselves when James O'Connor's fierce 25- yard volley was miraculously saved by Hahnemann, though Reading would have felt harshly done by had it gone in.
Cotterill admitted: "I don't care how the goals go in. The shot took a deflection but we deserved that."
Rougier, after netting his first goal since April, added: "My God is a worthy God. Jesus Christ is in charge of my life and I'll always put him before football."
