Danny Haynes grabbed his fourth goal of the season but there was little else to cheer for Blues as Stoke swept to victory at Portman Road.

The Potters opened the scoring early in the second-half when Fabian Wilnis diverted a cross past Shane Supple before Haynes levelled the scores with a close range finish.

Sambegou Bangoura put the visitors ahead nine minutes from time and Luke Chadwick and Darel Russell completed the scoring in time added on.

Alan Lee passed a fitness test on his injured groin and led the attack alongside Dean Bowditch, back in the starting line-up for the first time since his return after two months on loan at Wycombe.

Stoke started the brighter and a mistake by Richard Naylor presented a free-kick opportunity to the visitors, Paul Gallagher sending a quickly taken kick just over.

Alan Lee in action against Stoke

Chris Casement, making his first start for Blues, forced a corner with a run and cross, while at the other end Peter Kopteff sent a left foot shot just over, the same player then testing Shane Supple with a 20 yarder.

Dave Brammer sent a right foot drive just wide before Alan Lee burst into life around the Stoke box, spinning off Michael Duberry and firing just over.

Darel Russell was the pick of the visitors in the first-half with his constant runs into Town territory from midfield. He forced a corner with one deflected effort then set up Gallagher who shot tamely at Supple.

Jason De Vos went down inside the Stoke box after an aerial challenge but referee Patrick Miller waved away the penalty appeals.

Good work by Bowditch set up Casement whose cross was headed behind as Lee challenged, then Garvan sent a free-kick at Simonsen from 20 yards out.

Casement did well to shield the ball back to Supple as Russell challenged, then the Stoke midfielder had the best effort of a disappointing first-half, his 18 yard shot going just inches wide. The former Norwich player had another shot just over before the half-time whistle blew.

Sito replaced Casement at the break but five minutes into the second-half the Potters were ahead, Brammer's cross deflected past Supple by Wilnis under a challenge from Carl Hoefkens.

Bowditch, who had seen a powerful header go narrowly wide, was replaced by Haynes and Jim Magilton came on for Garvan, who had been yellow carded after a foul on Russell.

Stoke should have added a second on 64 minutes when Gallagher missed a sitter at the far post from Hoefkens' cross.

Three minutes later Town were level, Jimmy Juan's shot was beaten out by Simonsen and as Haynes and Duberry challenged the ball spun into the net.

Naylor came to Town's rescue on 70 minutes when he cleared Bangoura's shot off the line as the game opened up, Juan then testing Simonsen with a low drive.

The Stoke 'keeper then did well to hold Lee's cross at the near post with Haynes challenging.

Luke Chadwick and Bangoura linked up to set up Brammer but his shot flew high and wide before the Potters regained the lead, Gallagher's chip fell to Bangoura who volleyed past Supple.

Town had strong penalty claims on 83 minutes when Haynes went down under a challenge from Chadwick but again referee Miller said no.

Chadwick made it 3-1 as the game went into added on time, bursting clear, then cutting inside and out of Naylor before sliding the ball past Supple then Russell made it four at the second attempt after Supple had saved his initial effort.

Town: Supple, Casement (Sito 46), Naylor, De Vos, Wilnis, Currie, Garvan (Magilton 54), Juan, Richards, Lee, Bowditch (Haynes 54). Subs not used: Price, Barron.