Town find themselves just a point above the relegation zone after a truly abysmal performance at the Britannia stadium in a match that saw Stoke City, promoted via the play-off's last season, run out deserved winners.

If there was a 50-50 ball, a home player invariably won it, if there was loose ball, a Stoke player was invariably there first.

Town however did have the best of the opening exchanges but still managed to fall behind to a goal from Shtaniuk after 17 minutes.

A free-kick which was lofted into the Town penalty area by Gudjonsson, the back line failed to clear, and Shtaniuk was on hand for Stoke to loop a header over Andy Marshall.

It took Ipswich some 30 minutes to have there first real attempt on goal and that was wasted by Pablo Counago who blasted over the bar from 10-yards out.

The introduction of Darren Bent as a second half substitute lifted Ipswich and for a spell the one-touch-passing and movement from the midfield and strikers was excellent. It was this let-the-ball-do-the-work attitude that saw Town equalise after 68 minutes.

Bent and Darren Ambrose exchange quick passes on the right wing, Ambrose crossed and Gunnarsson, under pressure from Holland, beat his own 'keeper from six yards out.

Town were in the ascendancy and a long awaited league win seemed on the cards, but as they pressed forward for goal number two they were badly caught on the break.

A long ball forward by Gudjonsson was played into the area by Mooney and Cooke slotted home from just outside the six yard box.

Heads were down, any motivation there had been was lost, and thoughts of a quick return to the Premiership took another large step backwards.

Unsuprisingly the Town players were booed off at the end by the large following of the Ipswich faithful, whose patience, tested almost to the limit last season, is rapidly wearing thin.

Chairman David Sheepshanks has said that the faith shown by the fans in buying up record numbers of season tickets and continuing to travel in large numbers to away fixtures has been a major boost to the coaching staff and squad. Performances at home and away are getting worse with each passing game so when exactly will that faith be repaid ?