Stoke came from two goals behind to deny the Blues their first victory of 2006. Town had gone ahead through Jason De Vos and Fabian Wilnis inside the first 18 minutes but the Potters hit back with a goal in each half from Darel Russell and Mamady Sidibe.

Gavin Williams returned after his knee injury and Jason De Vos played despite receiving a dead leg against Luton on Saturday. The Blues were without the suspended Richard Naylor and a lengthy injured list: Danny Haynes (knee), Nicky Forster (knee), Dean Bowditch (hip), Sam Parkin (ankle), Billy Clarke (elbow), Sito (ankle), Darryl Knights (ankle) and the now eligible Vemund Brekke Skard who is recovering from his groin operation.

Into the side came Scott Barron at left-back for his full league debut, Aidan Collins at centre-half for his second full league appearance and Ian Westlake after coming off the bench on Saturday.

Shane Supple continued in goal with Lewis Price, currently suffering with a groin injury, on the bench along with Adam Proudlock and Kevin Horlock, both back from knee injuries, and the rested Owen Garvan and Jimmy Juan. Dean McDonald, Town's only fully fit striker, was handed a lone attacking role with Darren Currie just behind him ahead of the midfield.

Currie hit the first serious strike of the game in the third minute, but gave Steve Simonsen no problems. A minute later Matt Richards played a dangerous ball across the Stoke box but just behind McDonald.

The former Arsenal trainee sent Barron away down the left in the sixth minute as the Blues started the game very brightly. The youngster's cross found Ian Westlake but Simonsen managed to tip his shot wide.

But a Town lead wasn't too much longer in coming. In the seventh minute De Vos rose above everyone to head Currie's corner into the net off a despairing defender.

Stoke tried to hit back immediately through a Dave Brammer freekick but the former Crewe man sent the ball well wide. Luke Chadwick's shot soon after deflected over off Barron.

The home side were coming more into the game but it was still mainly Town, although Williams did well to put in a challenge on Sidibe when well-placed inside the area. From the resultant corner, an almighty scramble ensued with Wilnis and Williams unable to clear and Stoke's Lewis Buxton unable to get in a clean shot. Eventually Town forced the ball away from the danger zone.

Town added to their lead in the 18th minute after a fine move ended with Currie crossing deep to Wilnis on the right. The Dutchman unleashed a shot which Simonsen blocked but couldn't hold, the ball running back to Wilnis who lashed it into the net for his first goal since netting in the 2-0 win at Carrow Road in March 2003.

Simonsen saved from Westlake, then Brammer went over from 25 yards before Chadwick sent a freekick over the bar from a similar distance. Stoke were proving dangerous in the air and Sambegou Bangoura headed over from a Chadwick cross in the 22nd minute.

On 25 keeper Simonsen hesitated and McDonald stole the ball and laid it back to Currie whose shot was blocked.

Two minutes later Stoke hit back. Aidan Collins slipped and lost possession on halfway, Sidibe taking the ball on into the area unchallenged before laying the ball across to the unmarked Darel Russell who gave Supple no chance.

Stoke were gaining the ascendancy as the half entered its final minutes, Gavin Williams blocking Michael Duberry's header from a corner. Soon after, Bangoura headed Hoefkens's cross wide.

There was more danger in the Town box in the 39th minute when another Duberry header was blocked and Bangoura sent an overhead kick across the face of goal and past a number of his team-mates' toes. With four minutes of the half remaining, Chadwick picked up a yellow card for dissent towards a linesman.

Supple saved a Bangoura header with two minutes of the half remaining, then Marlon Broomes was booked for a foul on Williams just outside the area. From the freekick Darren Currie's shot was saved.

Town were applauded off at the break, having put in their most impressive display of the season for the first 30 minutes or so. The passing was slick, chances were created and there could have been more than the two goals. Stoke come back into it late on, the goal giving them a boost and they looked the more dangerous of the two sides later on.

The Blues started the second half well and Westlake shot over from 25 yards in the 53rd minute. Four minutes later Saturday's scorer again went looking to add to his total for the season, making a strong run to the edge of the box and shooting wide.

Bangoura ought to have put Stoke back on terms in the 69th minute when played through one-on-one with Supple but the Town youngster saved well. The Blues were unhappy that the chance came after Russell appeared to foul Richards. On 71 Jimmy Juan replaced Jim Magilton in the centre of midfield.

Almost immediately Stoke got back on terms and inevitably it came from a corner and from the always threatening Sidibe. Brammer whipped in the kick and the Malian got to the ball ahead of Supple to head home.

Seven minutes later, Town ought to have regained the lead. Westlake played in Williams one-on-one with Simonsen but the loanee shot straight at the keeper and the ball went wide. From the corner Jason De Vos headed powerfully wide.

Supple saved Peter Kopteff's 25-yard strike as the game entered the final 10 minutes, before Bangoura had an effort blocked after Jason De Vos appeared to let the ball run to him, perhaps having misheard a call from behind.

Town's final scare came soon after as Hoefkens struck the ball across the face of goal through a crowd of players and off a defender for a corner. With two minutes remaining Adam Proudlock replaced Dean McDonald.

In the end a draw was probably a fair result. Town had much the better of the first half but the home side's more physical approach eventually put them on top and created them enough chances to gain a point and, but for another inspired performance from Shane Supple, could have grabbed all three.

Gavin Williams, Matt Richards and Ian Westlake were particularly impressive in the midfield, while Scott Barron did well in his first league start at left-back. Given the current number of injuries and some of the displays earlier in the season, a heartening performance even if Town did give away a two-goal lead.

Town: Supple, Wilnis, Barron, De Vos, Collins, Magilton (Juan 71), Williams, Richards, Currie, Westlake, McDonald (Proudlock 88). Unused: Price, Horlock, Garvan. Att: 14,493.

Photo: Action Images

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