Not the start Town wanted to the festive programme with Liam Lawrence's goal midway through the second-half giving Stoke the points at Portman Road. Jon Macken and Alan Lee both going close for Blues.

Lee shot at Steve Simonsen with the best effort of the first-half, then Macken fired into the sidenetting just after the break before Lawrence burst into the box to fire past Lewis Price in one of the few really clear cut chances in the game.

Jim Magilton named the same Town side that started against Leeds last week, Gavin Williams recovering from a groin injury to line up in midfield.

Blues dominated the early stages, Gary Roberts' cross cleared by Clint Hill as Lee challenged, then Macken winning a free-kick on the edge of the Stoke box, Williams hitting the wall with his free-kick.

Roberts then robbed Mamady Sidibe and crossed from the right, Potters 'keeper Simonsen cutting out the danger as Macken threatened.

Dan Harding fired goalwards with his right foot from 25 yards, then Salif Diao picked up a yellow card for a foul on Macken, Garvan sending a free-kick wide.

Lee Hendrie soon followed into referee Uriah Rennie's notebook for a foul on Williams as Stoke struggled to make an impact on the game.

It was 25 minutes before they registered their first shot in anger, Carl Hoefkens shooting well over.

Sidibe beat Alex Bruce to the loose ball inside the Town box, Jason De Vos clearing as the visitors started to edge their way back into the game. Sidibe shot at Price from 25 yards, then former Blues' loanee Ricardo Fuller weaved his way into the home box before firing just wide with his left foot.

Lee tested Simonsen with a low shot from the edge of the box, while at the other end Fuller shot into the sidenetting after a good exchange of passing.

Williams picked up his seventh yellow card of the season just before half-time for a foul on Lawrence, with Sylvain Legwinski ending the half with a shot at Simonsen.

The tempo stepped up a notch at the start of the second-half, Darel Russell shooting at Price, then Richard Naylor hacking the ball clear after Sidibe had beat the Town 'keeper in the air.

A brilliant Garvan pass almost released Roberts, Simonsen clearing from outside his box then the Irish teenager drifted past two Stoke defenders and crossed, Danny Higginbotham clearing.

Lawrence lofted the ball over the bar from close range, then Price denied Fuller at the near post after the frontman had galloped into the box while at the other end, Simonen saved at Lee's feet.

Carl Dickinson replaced Lewis Buxton midway through the second-half, with Town also making a change, Danny Haynes coming on for Lee.

Stoke got the breakthrough on 70 minutes, Hendrie cut inside and his backheel found the overlappingLawrence who fired left footed into the far corner.

Lawrence had a chance to make it two shortly after but was denied inside the Town box after Fuller had led a breakaway down the left.

Town responded with a De Vos header claimed by Simonsen and a Garvan right foot shot going over, while Naylor did well to clear Hendrie's pass as it arrowed towards Sidibe.

Jaime Peters replacedBruce with 10 minutes left on the clock as Town went three at the back,Fuller exposing the space vacant on the right of the Blues' defence, his shot palmed over the bar, just, by Price.

Hendrie limped off as the game entered added on time, Roberts also leaving the action, Simon Walton his replacement.

Harding's cross was headed clear by Hill with Macken having the final shot of the game, the ball sailing over the bar and with it the points.