Town with their horrendus injury list and with Richard Naylor suspended fielded a side with 6 changes from the one that beat Luton on New years eve.
Scott Barron made his full debut at left back with Aidan Collins making only his second ever league start coming in at centre back and Dean McDonald playing up front alone as the only match fit forward on Towns books.
But it was town who took the lead in the 7th minute, Jason De Vos on his 32nd birthday heading home a Darren Currie corner. Fabian Wilnis then double that advantage on 18 when his first shot was parried he volleyed home the return, his first goal for over 120 games
Stoke pulled one back, envitably through ex Norwich player Darel Russell poking home a Sambegou Bangoura pass in the 27th minute. Mamady Saidibe earned the home side a share of the points heading home from a Dave Brammer corner after 73 mins.
The result a fair reflection on the game as a whole, and Joe Royle will be pleased to be able to go home with another vital point in the bag, Stokes’ Britannia Stadium not ususally a good hunting ground for Ipswich.
Stoke: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Broomes (Henry 45), Duberry, Buxton, Chadwick (Harper 60), Russell, Brammer, Gallagher (Kopteff 70), Bangoura, Sidibe.
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Sweeney.
Booked: Chadwick, Broomes.
Goals: Russell 27, Sidibe 73.
Ipswich: Supple, Wilnis, De Vos, Barron, Richards, Magilton (Juan 71), Williams, Collins, Westlake, McDonald (Proudlock 88), Currie.
Subs Not Used: Horlock, Garvan, Price.
Goals: De Vos 7, Wilnis 18.
Ref: L Probert (Gloucestershire).
Joe Royle proud of players
Speaking to the Ipswich official website:
‘It would have been a terrific goal but if we had been offered the point before the game, given our injuries, I would have taken it’
‘We even had to tear up the team sheet on the bus when Danny Haynes said he didn’t think his sore knee would stand up to the game’
‘We had three kids at the back with Aidan Collins and Scott Barron and Shane Supple in goal and they were terrific for us. From the youngest to our 36-year-old skipper Jim Magilton, the players were all fantastic. I’m proud of all of them’
‘We had a great start with the two goals but their first was a killer for us. Aidan made a mistake and that got them back in the game because at that stage, they hadn’t even seen the ball let alone caused us any problems’
‘We played some terrific football at times and although they had some goalmouth skirmishes at the end I think it was a fair result’
Johan Boskamp on a game of two halves
Speaking to the Stoke offical website:
‘We did not concentrate from the early corner kicks and free-kicks and in the first 25 minutes Ipswich were by far the better team’
‘We gave away too much space and that’s not good enough. In the first-half we were bad and then we came back and created so many chances. We stood up and were better’
‘If you see the first thirty minutes then I think we won one point but if you see the second-half then I think we lost two points’
