To cover for Mama Sidibe's departure to the African Cup of Nations Cresswell moved inside to partner Fuller,recreating their old Preston partnership.
Stoke had the best early chance with keeper Alexander pushing aside Lawrence's shot for a corner.The home side took the lead through right winger Haynes in the 18th minute.He received the lateral ball,accelerated, cutting inside Dickinson.His strong shot hit the far post and ran back along the goaline and into the net.In the next few minutes Ipswich could have been out of sight.Simonsen saved from Haynes again,and next a retreating Shawcross managed to clear off the line.
Nowadays though with Stoke you can rely on the team finding a way back.On 33 minutes Cresswell received the ball down the left,and he cut the ball inside to Pugh.He moved forward into the penalty area,pushed the ball between two defenders,to Fuller who shot sweetly with his left foot,across the keeper.into the far right corner of the net.
The second half saw chances for both sides.Fuller received a defensive clearance,accelerated out of his own half leaving one Ipswich defender on his backside and outpacing another to produce a one on one with the keeper.Alexander dived in managing to flick the ball away as Fuller was simultaneously clattered by recovering Ipswich defenders.
Substitute Jon Parkin had the other noteworthy chance.Lawrence worked the ball through to him on the right corner of the 6 yard box.As Alexander advanced Parkin cleverly flicked the ball over him.The keeper made absolutely no contact with the ball,but plenty with Parkin taking his legs from under him.A legitimate penalty denied at the death!
Currently Stoke are draw experts,but again here only a whisker away from a win,whether dewserved or not.A good result,which might have settled for before the match,and the team remain in 4th place in the table.
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