The first chance of the game came to Curtis Woodhouse after 6 minutes. A good move on the left ended with Nick Barmby laying the ball off the Woodhouse 20 yards out, but he woefully shot over when he should have at least hit the target.
Stoke forward Mamady Sidebe had a sight of goal but shot wide in the 13th minute.
City were denied a penalty in the incident of the match in the 18th minute. Stuart Elliott ran at the Stoke defence before releasing the ball in the box. It would have run to Nick Barmby, but he went over from an apparent shove from Marlon Broomes. Barmby protested strongly to the linesman on the side of the incident, as did the home crowd, but no penalty was given.
Potters goalkeeper Ed de Goey dropped a corner but managed to hold it on the line after a goalmouth scramble.
Elliott went into the book when referee Colin Webster adjudged that he dived in the penalty area.
In stoppage time, De Goey tipped over a John Welsh shot, and from Curtis Woodhouse's corner Damien Delaney headed against the crossbar.
City had by far the better of the play in the first half, and carried that on after the break. A Curtis Woodhouse volley was deflected out for a corner, and from it Leon Cort headed wide.
A well hit left-footed shot by Welsh went just wide in the 50th minute, and soon after Stuart Elliott had a weak free kick from a good position easily saved by de Goey.
The visitors then threatened as Martin Kolar's left wing cross was headed against the bar by Sidibe.
City went all out attack by bringing on Stuart Green and Ben Burgess, and this backfired as they conceded in the 73rd minute. The Tigers defence failed to deal with a Kolar cross in from the left, and as it was played back in by Kevin Harper, Paul Gallagher turned it in from close range.
Burgess headed just wide, but aside from that City failed to create any real chances to get anything from the game.
City line-up (4-4-2): Boaz Myhill; Danny Coles, Leon Cort, Damien Delaney, Roland Edge; Ryan France (Jason Price, 45 mins), John Welsh, Curtis Woodhouse (Ben Burgess, 67 mins), Stuart Elliott; Nick Barmby, Chris Brown (Stuart Green, 66 mins).
Un-used subs: Matt Duke, Kevin Ellison.