Stoke City 1-1 Swansea City: Tyrese Campbell rescues point for Potters in Neil's first game
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Alex Neil (right) celebrates Tyrese Campbell's late leveller
Alex Neil's Stoke City reign began with a draw thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Tyrese Campbell.
Swansea City looked set for a much-needed second win of the season thanks to Joel Piroe's close-range finish.
But substitute Campbell swept in to make it a decent night for Neil, who was in the dugout for the first time since being named Stoke boss.
His new side climb to 16th in the early-season table, while Swansea edge out of the drop zone into 21st.
The Welsh club thought they had done enough to secure what would have been a pressure-easing victory, but the timing of Campbell's leveller was hard to take.
Despite a much-improved performance, a return of only one victory from Swansea's first seven Championship games in 2022-23 is a concern for head coach Russell Martin.
Neil watched from the Ewood Park directors' box as Stoke secured just a second win of the season at Blackburn Rovers last Saturday.
Having rubber-stamped his move from Sunderland to the Potteries 24 hours later, Neil set about preparing for a reunion with Martin, who played for him at Norwich City.
Martin's Swansea have been struggling for form, and they almost gifted Stoke an early opener when one of their unorthodox goal-kick routines ended with Andy Fisher gifting possession to Lewis Baker.
Stoke's captain was unfortunate to see his 40-yard shot cannon back off the bar, with Fisher recovering - just - to paw Dwight Gayle's follow-up header off the line.
Swansea were wobbling, yet went in front thanks to their first attack of the game as Matt Grimes swept the ball wide to Matty Sorinola.
He delivered a perfect cross for Piroe, who marked his return to a more central attacking role with his first open-play goal of the season, the Dutchman guiding the ball beyond a helpless Jack Bonham.
Stoke responded, with Gayle spotting Fisher off his line once more and shooting narrowly wide from the halfway line before Swansea old boy Ben Wilmot headed across the face.
But in an open contest Swansea were soon threatening again, with ex-Stoke skipper Joe Allen seeing a 20-yard drive saved before Ollie Cooper - who impressed on his first league start for the club - flashed a spectacular overhead kick past the post.
Joel Piroe celebrates after scoring his first open-play goal of the season
Piroe was twice denied by sharp Bonham saves, either side of a major let-off for Swansea when Aden Flint headed over from point-blank range.
Stoke pushed hard for an equaliser late on, with on-loan Manchester City striker Liam Delap denied a first Potters goal by a crucial Grimes block before Tyrese Campbell headed wide.
Not for the first time this season, Swansea saw points slip from their grasp in stoppage time when Flint headed Will Smallbone's looping cross back towards goal and Campbell steered in his first goal of the season.
Stoke manager Alex Neil:
"Opening nights, you are always concerned before you go into games because you have had 24 hours to work with the players.
"I think Swansea are the type of team where you have to get after the ball and I don't think that's natural for us in terms of how we have played before.
"We created a couple of chances, then the goal took the confidence out of us for 15 minutes and I think you could see the lads start to get a bit edgy.
"At half-time we spoke about believing in what they are doing, playing with a bit of personality, and second half I thought we were the better side. If anybody should have won the game, it should have been us."
Swansea head coach Russell Martin:
"I liked so much of [the performance], as I did on Saturday - the willingness to run, intensity, desire was great, mentality to defend.
"Then we concede at the death which is really frustrating. We didn't have as much control as usual but I thought we looked really threatening and the guys played with so much fire.
"Before the game it would have been a really good point coming here, with Alex's first game. The manner in which we lose it is very frustrating.
"It shows we are not quite ready yet to be where we want to be and we are very, very close. I am proud of the performance but I also know we can be so much better, which is exciting."