Stoke strengthened their position at the top of the table with Liam Lawrence's first-half goal proving decisive.

The 26-year-old midfielder latched on to a Dan Harding clearance just before the break and beat Stephen Bywater with a strike from distance to send the Potters one point clear of Bristol City at the top.

Alan Lee missed Blues' best chance with a shot wide from eight yards in the first-half and Steve Simonsen did well to beat out a Velice Sumulikoski shot as Stoke made it five successive wins and opened up a gap at the top of the Championship table.

Town's misery was compounded when Jim Magilton was sent to the stands after an exchange of words with referee Mick Jones.

Town made one change from the team that beat Blackpool last week, Alan Quinn coming in for Danny Haynes, who started on the bench.

Ricardo Fuller sent the first chance of the game straight at Stephen Bywater on four minutes, the 'keeper saving the Stoke frontman's header comfortably.

Lawrence and Quinn both caused problems with free-kicks at opposite ends of the park, then more good work by Quinn created an opening for Alan Lee but he couldn't take advantage, Ryan Shawcross clearing.

Lee had the best opening for Blues in the first-half on 22 minutes, Dan Harding's cross finding Jon Walters in the box, he set up Lee but the Republic of Ireland international lacked direction with his shot from eight yards.

Glenn Whelan tested Bywater with a low drive, then Walters went down under a challenge in the box but referee Mick Jones waved away any calls for a penalty.

Shawcross had the ball in the net for the Potters but the flag had long been raised for offside, while at the other end it took a timely challenge from Richard Cresswell to rob David Norris as he prepared to shoot.

Former Town loanee Fuller pulled his shot wide before Lawrence picked up a yellow card after catching Harding late.

It was the Stoke wideman who made the breakthrough on 42 minutes though, the former Sunderland player beating Bywater with a strike from distance into the top corner after picking up a clearance from Harding.

Town boss Jim Magilton made one change at the break, Haynes replacing Quinn on the left of midfield.

The England U19 international was immediately in the action, crossing well from the flank that caused Stoke 'keeper Steve Simonsen to spill the ball, Lee just failing to take advantage, Velice Sumulikoski then dragging a shot wide.

Cresswell wasted possession when Stoke broke at pace and had men over, before the Town boss was sent to the stands after having words with referee Jones as he tried to retrieve the ball for his side after the Potters cleared.

Rory Delap was booked for a foul on Lee, then Fuller escaped Richard Naylor's challenge and raced in on goal before Tommy Miller came to Town's rescue with a terrific challenge inside the box.

Mamady Sidibe brought the home side to their feet with an acrobatic bicycle kick that went just wide midway through the half as Stoke threatened a second. Sidibe then missing with an angled drive after a corner fell to him.

Pablo Counago replaced Lee for the last 20 minutes and the Spaniard immediately make an impact, setting up Sumulikoski whose 25 yard drive was pushed away for a corner by a diving Simonsen.

Owen Garvan was Town's final change on 75 minutes, replacing Norris, who took a heavy knock minutes earlier. Salif Diao coming on for Sidibe in Stoke's first change.

Bywater dealt comfortably with Lawrence's shot from distance as the game entered the closing stages, Sumulikoski seeing a shot blocked then Garvan's strike deflected for a corner, Shawcross clearing the danger as the Potters kept up their push for automatic promotion by seeing out the game. The defeat seeing Blues slip to seventh.

Stoke: Simonsen, Griffin, Cort, Shawcross, Dickinson, Lawrence, Delap, Whelan, Cresswell, Sidibe (Diao 82), Fuller. Subs not used: Wilkinson, Gallagher, Fulop, Parkin. Booked: Lawrence, Delap.

Town: Bywater, Bruce, De Vos, Naylor, Harding, Norris (Garvan 75), Miller, Sumulikoski, Quinn (Haynes 46), Lee (Counago 70), Walters. Subs not used: Colgan, Wright.