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"It would have been three on the bounce if we had lost so it was an important goal for us. Obviously we are disappointed we didn't win because three points would have been a massive help. But we fought hard, kept believing and in the end we managed to get a point.
"They have a never say die attitude and that proved vital in the end. The spirit is great in the dressing room, but we have got to go on now and make sure we pick up some wins. We are in second place, and it still remains in our own hands."
Owen Coyle was as bitterly disappointed as everyone with that late penalty and spoke for everyone after the game when he said: "It feels like a defeat." They were the words I spoke as I left the ground.
Coyle continued: "I felt for the lads and the supporters. We had amazing vocal support today and it is a bitter pill to swallow so late on. What compounds it is that I didn't think it was a penalty. I have seen the replays on the TV and it looked a very soft award. There was contact but it was minimal and the lad has been clever and gone down.
"It seemed to take an eternity to take the penalty and even then the ball hit the post and hit Gabor on the back of the head, so luck certainly wasn't on our side today. On another day it might have come out, but then again with the shape of Gabor's head, maybe not."
On the game generally he added: "We looked for a reaction after last Tuesday and given the suspensions and injuries we had it hit us hard today. Kyle was poorly before the game and it was touch and go whether he played, and Andrew Cole was struggling with his calf.
"Before the game you would probably be happy with a point, but I am bitterly disappointed and it feels like a defeat to lose so late. Stoke put us under pressure and that's no accident because they are a very good side. They were not top of the table for nothing and they use their attributes well.
"But we scored a good goal and looked to take the game on from there. We had to withstand their pressure, but I can't recall too many chances when they could have scored," he concluded.
"We have two home games now," Coyle said looking forward. "We have to be at our best. We are certainly capable of winning both. We have finished with two draws from the last two Saturday games and we probably should be sat here with six points from the last nine."