Town held by Potters

Stoke received a boost in their battle to avoid relegation by claiming an unlikely point off Ipswich on a pudding of a pitch at Portman Road.

After the match had started 15 minutes late Ipswich could have gone ahead in the seventh minute when Hermann Hreidarsson put the ball wide from a good position.

Darren Bent also forced the first save from Stoke`s on-loan goalkeeper Mark Crossley.

After 15 minutes Tommy Miller fired over the crossbar, and Darren Bent should have done much better shortly afterwards when he screwed the ball wide after Stoke had struggled to clear a corner.

But Ipswich's rhythm was unsettled after 22 minutes when Hreidarsson had to go off with a knee injury, Matt Richards taking his place.

And the Icelandic defender was followed to the dressing room by Miller as he took a knock and made way for Martijn Reuser.

Full-back Chris Makin created the first chance of the second period, crossing for Darren Bent to head wide from close range.

And the home strikers' nightmare in front of goal continued when Marcus Bent tried to lob the ball over Crossley but put it past the post.

Royle made his final change just before the hour, sending on Richard Naylor to see if he could succeed where the Bent boys were failing.

Thomas Gaardsoe saw his header parried away by Crossley from Reuser's corner - and the goalkeeper also held efforts from Naylor and Matt Holland as Stoke resisted everything Ipswich could throw at them.

BBC