City are top of the league after beating Charlton Athletic 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium.
Substitute Jon Parkin's late goal earned the Potters a thoroughly deserved three points.
Jonathan Fortune deflected Andy Reid's free kick in to the back of the net, before Ricardo Fuller brilliantly curled the Potters level.
Tony Pulis handed new boy Jody Craddock his debut at the heart of the defence, after Danny Higginbotham failed to shrug off his injury.
City started the match explosively and encaged the visitors in their own penalty box for the opening twenty minutes.
However a goal never came, despite Rory Delap and Craddock both going close.
Manchester United youngster Ryan Shawcross almost made it three in three on eight minutes but his powerful header flew inches wide.
The Addicks created their first chance after 15 minutes when Marcus Bent fired inches wide of Steve Simonsen's right hand post.
City were handed a blow after 25 minutes with on loan defender Stephen Wright being stretchered off.
Stand in captain Dominic Matteo should have put the hosts ahead just after the half hour but he placed his header just past Nicky Weaver's post.
City continued to dominate and Sidibe should have scored, but he sliced his effort wide with the goal at his mercy.
Just before half time, Alan Pardew's side almost nicked the lead, after Jerome Thomas curled a 25-yard effort just over.
They did take the lead however in the 54th minute, with former City loanee Fortune cruelly deflecting Reid's free kick beyond the outstretched Simonsen.
With the Charlton players barely finished celebrating, Fuller levelled the scoreline.
The Jamaican immaculately turned on the edge of the 18-yard box before curling the ball into the bottom left hand corner.
'Big' Chris Iwelumo almost came back to haunt his old club again after flicking Reid's cross just wide.
Jon Parkin made his return to the Potters with just 15 minutes left, and four minutes later he put the ball into the back of the net.
The 'Beast' cleverly touched the ball past the defender and exquisitely curled it beyond the keeper into the bottom left hand corner.
Simonsen was called in to action with eight minutes left, and he exceptionally saved Reid's long range strike.
Iwelumo then had a goal disallowed for offside, while Sidibe almost connected to Carl Dickinson's driven cross.
City could have sealed the match in the 90th minute, but Lawrence fired his shot straight at Weaver.
The Potters held out for the final two minutes and secured a spot on top of the Championship, making it a perfect start to the 2007/08 season.
CITY (4-4-2): Simonsen; Wright (Buxton 32), Shawcross, Craddock, Dickinson; Lawrence (Eustace 92), Delap, Matteo (c), Cresswell, Sidibe, Fuller (Parkin 74): Subs: Pulis, Hoult (GK).
CHARLTON (4-4-2): Weaver; Moutaouakil (McCarthy 55), Bougherra, Fortune, Thatcher; Sam (Thomas 46), Semedo, Reid (c), Ambrose, Bent, McLeod (Iwelumo 46). Subs: Zhi, Randolph (GK).
