Liam Lawrence bagged a hat-trick as City secured a point against Barnsley in a Boxing Day classic.
The former Sunderland man fired home two penalties, one in the 98th minute, to move the Potters up to third in the Championship.
Brian Howard put the hosts ahead with a first half penalty, before Lawrence tucked away his spot kick shortly after.
Jonathan Macken put the Tykes back in to the lead in the 65th minute after heading home a Martin Devaney cross.
Again City failed to lie down and Lawrence smashed home following a brilliant training ground routine free-kick with just five minutes remaining.
Disaster struck barely sixty seconds later however, as Macken scrambled the ball home following a mix up in the City 6-yard box.
Just as it looked like City's eight game unbeaten run was coming to an end, referee Trevor Kettle handed City a lifeline after awarding another penalty for a dubious looking handball.
Lawrence calmly stepped up and dispatched his penalty to send the fans wild and make it nine games unbeaten.
Boss Pulis made no changes ahead of the clash, keeping faith with the same eleven which dispatched of West Brom 3-1 on Saturday.
The match began and City immediately took the game to the Tykes, but despite winning four early corners they couldn't find a way through a stubborn Barnsley rear-guard.
In form Ricardo Fuller won City a dangerous free kick after 15 minutes, but Liam Lawrence's in-swinging ball was headed away by Lewin Nyatanga.
On loan Derby striker Jon Macken almost gave the hosts an undeserved lead after meeting a dangerous cross with his head. Fortunately for City though, it dipped just over the bar.
Lawrence was inches away shortly after following his rasping half volley which just evaded the cross bar.
Richard Cresswell was adjudged to have climbed over Howard in the 22nd minute, with the referee awarding a penalty.
He picked himself up and coolly slotted the ball in to the bottom right hand corner to fire the hosts in to the lead.
Efforts from both Martin Devaney and Lawrence went close for either side, with Simonsen producing an outstanding save to thwart the Barnsley midfielder.
On the half hour Fuller again out muscled the Tykes defence before being pulled down by defender Dennis Souza inside the 6-yard box.
Referee Trevor Kettle awarded City a penalty and Lawrence stepped up to replicate Howard and place the ball in to the bottom corner.
Mamady Sidibe should have put the Potters ahead just before half time, but he could only divert Lawrence's cross wide of the post.
City returned from the half time interval and again started the better f the two sides.
Sidibe rose highest to meet Richard Cresswell's cross but headed just wide of Heinz Muller's post.
The impressive Lawrence almost fired City spectacularly ahead, but his 30-yard free-kick cannoned off the crossbar.
In the 65th minute City were made to pay for their missed chances as Macken scrambled the ball over the line after Ryan Shawcross had cleared off the line.
Rory Delap attempted a long range strike but his effort flew over the bar, while Istvan Ferenczi should have done better in the 75th minute.
City levelled the scoreline with just six minutes remaining thanks to an outstanding free kick routine.
Lawrence linked up with Fuller, before the Jamaican laid the ball back to the former Sunderland man who smashed the ball in to the back of the net.
Barely sixty seconds later though, Barnsley restored their lead. Macken made the most of a defensive mix up and fired the ball home to leave City shell shocked.
The game was to take a final twist though, and the Potters were handed a last minute penalty, following a free-kick which resulted in former Crewe man Stephen Foster picking up a red card for bringing down Fuller.
Lawrence calmly stepped up and made no mistake as he fired home to move City up to third.
