A goal in each half from Tom Ince and Joe Allen saw Stoke City to a 2-0 victory over the bottom-of-the-table Blues at the bet365 Stadium. Ince’s injury time goal was harsh on Town after an evenly-balanced first half and Allen sealed the three points for the home side, who are up to 10th, on the hour.

Blues boss Paul Lambert made five changes from the team which lost 2-0 at Nottingham Forest last week, including a switch in goal with Dean Gerken replacing the out-of-form Bartosz Bialkowski.

Lambert, facing the club he managed between January and May of this year, stuck with the same back four he has fielded in all five of his previous games but with Cole Skuse out with a knee injury, Trevoh Chalobah returned in the deeper midfield role with Flynn Downes and Jon Nolan, who was making his first start since the change of manager, ahead of him.

Jack Lankester was handed his second senior start on the right of the front three with Freddie Sears on the left and Jordan Roberts the central striker. Kayden Jackson and Grant Ward, starters at Forest last week, missed out on places in the 18, while Teddy Bishop dropped to the bench.

Stoke made two changes to the team which drew 2-2 at Reading last week with Saido Berahino and Ashley Williams replacing James McClean and Bruno Martins Indi.

The game started in persistent and increasingly heavy rain. Chances were non-existent in the opening minutes but on six Benik Afobe almost profited from Matthew Pennington’s hesitancy, however, Gerken came off his line quickly to get something on the ball and, as the Stoke striker rather ambitiously claimed he’d been fouled, Jonas Knudsen cleared.

Penalty area action continued to be a rarity with the Potters having most of the ball although unable to test Gerken, but with the Blues also having the occasional passage of play but similarly without creating any danger.

On 20, with the rain having subsided, Berahino struck a shot not too far wide of Gerken’s left post from the edge of the box, before the Blues twice went closer to going in front.

First, following a corner on right, the ball was eventually played back to taker Lankester, who beat a man before hitting a shot from a very tight angle which truck the post, then keeper Jack Butland before going behind.

Following the resultant corner, Lankester crossed back in after his initial ball had been cleared and skipper Luke Chambers was unable to get enough on his header which slipped past the far post.

Ince shot over in the 24th minute, then Sears curled an effort similarly too high at the other after good work from the increasingly involved Lankester, looking far from overawed against an opposition side featuring plenty of players with extensive Premier League experience.

In the 32nd minute, with the Blues growing in belief and keeping the ball with greater confidence, Roberts shot wide from the edge of the box. A minute later, Nolan sent Sears away on the left but the ex-West Ham man’s cross was blocked.

Lankester threatened again on 35, cutting in from the right and hitting a shot which flew not too far over Butland’s bar after good work from Downes.

Referee Geoff Eltringham succumbed to what looked to be a hamstring injury in the 39th minute with fourth official Anthony Backhouse replacing him. Coincidentally, Eltringham was the sub official last time a referee was subbed in a Town match, at Middlesbrough a year ago tomorrow when Merseyside-based official Robert Jones was forced off at half-time.

Town deserved to go in level at the break having matched - and at times more than matched - the Potters but in injury time they fell behind.

Sam Clucas found himself in space midway inside the Town half and played in Ince, breaking into the area along with Afobe on an overloaded Town left, and the former Blackpool man slipped the ball under the advancing Gerken.

There was just time for a blocked Lankester header from a Chalobah cross from the right following a Lankester corner on the other flank to bounce through to Butland before replacement referee Backhouse brought the period to an end.

The late goal was harsh on the Blues on the overall balance of the half. Having started slowly, Town found their feet and in patches looked the more likely scorers with Stoke having seen a lot of the ball but without looking particularly threatening until Clucas found the gap into which he played the ball for Ince, who took his chance confidently.

Town youngster Lankester was the first to threaten in the second half. Five minutes after the restart, the 18-year-old was fouled just outside the area to the right then took the freekick himself, a Stoke defender diverting his strike - which looked goal-bound - over the bar.

The corner came to nothing directly but the Blues kept the ball in the final third and Downes hit a low shot from the edge of the box which Butland saved down to his right.

Town had started the half the brighter of the two teams but just before the hour the home side doubled their lead with a well-worked move down the left.

Pieters exchanged passes as he broke down the flank crossed low towards Allen, who deftly turned the ball across Gerken and into the net from not far inside the area.

The second goal gave the Potters’ confidence an unsurprising boost and the Blues briefly found themselves under pressure with Ince and Berahino both having strikes blocked.

On 65 Gwion Edwards took over from Lankester, who had put in another very impressive display having been Town’s most dangerous player in the first half. A minute after coming on Edwards was booked for a foul on Pieters.

Chalobah lashed wildly over for the Blues on 70, then moments later Stoke swapped Ince for James McClean.

Town were inches away from pulling a goal back a minute later when Nolan fed Roberts on the left and the former Crawley man’s low shot was diverted away from Sears and also past the far post by a Stoke defender’s toe. As the Blues prepared to take the corner, Andre Dozzell took over from Nolan.

Boss Lambert swapped Roberts, who had battled hard throughout without getting too many sights at goal, for Ellis Harrison with 10 minutes remaining.

Although the Blues continued to try to take the game to the Potters - and the travelling 1,100 Town fans kept singing - the match looked over from a competitive perspective with Stoke looking largely content with their two-goal advantage.

With two minutes of scheduled time remaining Peter Crouch and Darren Fletcher replaced Afobe and Clucas.

There was no late drama and the referee’s whistle confirmed the extension of Town’s winless run to nine matches.

The Town travelling support was the louder of the two sets of fans at the whistle as they cheered their side off after another promising but ultimately fruitless display, a familiar story since Lambert took charge in late October.

The Blues, who have never won at Stoke’s current ground, hadn’t deserved to go in a goal behind at half-time and began the second half brightly. However, it was the Potters who were the ones able to carve out the game's clear-cut chances and once Allen had netted his goal the result was never really in doubt.

An experienced striker with an eye for goal and a player, or players, able to create him chances are bound to be high on Blues boss Lambert’s January list of additions.

Town, now eight points plus goal difference from safety, will hope they can put in a similar display but while grabbing the first win of the Lambert era at the seventh attempt when Wigan Athletic visit Portman Road next Saturday.

Stoke City: Butland, Martina, Shawcross (c), Williams, Pieters, Woods, Allen, Clucas (Fletcher 88), Ince (McClean 70), Afobe (Crouch 88), Berahino. Unused: Federici, Martins Indi, Diouf, Sorensen.

Town: Gerken, Spence, Chambers (c), Pennington, Knudsen, Chalobah, Downes, Nolan (Dozzell 73), Lankester (Edwards 65), Sears, Roberts (Harrison 80). Unused: Bialkowski, Bishop, Rowe, Nsiala. Referee: Geoff Eltringham (County Durham) (Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria) 39). Att: 24,684 (Town: 1,011).

Photo: Pagepix

graham2408 added 18:37 - Dec 8 At last! A manager that recognises the value and importance of our brilliant squad of youngsters. We have one of the best academies in the league and, at last, we are using them.
3

Surco72 added 18:42 - Dec 8 Lambert will lose backing from the fans if he persists with the same back four under performing every week whilst rotating the rest of the team that were scoring regularly . Donacien cannot be any worse than Spence , Niasala early in the season had some good games and should be tried again .And as for Knudsen I would play anyone there rather than him . Really think we should be playing Bishop or Dozzell from start even if they have to rotate each game unless Lambert was saving Bush and Edwards for a more winnable game at home next ?

3

RobsonWark added 18:51 - Dec 8 Chambers, Chambers, Chambers! Will somebody please shoot the guy - that is only the way he will be dropped. I've said it soooooooooooooooooooo many times - we are going down with that piece of **** at the back. Please, please, please Paul Lambert drop that useless waste of a space.
-5

ShropshireBluenago09 added 18:51 - Dec 8 Lots of positives today. Our young side was up against it, against arguably the best squad in this division. We passed the ball well, competed, challenged and matched Stoke throughout the game. The only difference was quality in the final third. Pennington was awesome throughout and Lankester tried to make things happen. Spence had a better game as did Chambers. January cannot come quick enough to get some quality strikers in, but must hit the ground running.

4

dirtydingusmagee added 18:51 - Dec 8 not going over the Evans/Hurst thing again, we know whats killed the club, but as far as today is concerned the youngsters performed well and deserve credit, until we conceded first goal things were looking bright, Its a huge task to stay up ,but its still not impossible. We cant expect to see new players signed in January other than on loan, but if we can get some decent players on loan we may just pull it off. Then Evans MUST act one way or another. We are over due some good luck, and that may be enough to spark a revival. Come on everyone, we dont want Lge 1, so while there is a scrap of hope lets keep our end up . COYB

4

ShropshireBluenago09 added 18:57 - Dec 8 The back 4 were much improved today
0

blue86 added 19:04 - Dec 8 thats it then..... have been trying to keep the faith, but its obvious its to late to save our season. all we can hope for is to come straight up from league 1, but look at the likes of coventry and charton, worrying times!!! will always support town though, just hope the good times will eventually return, been bad for a very long time.
0

shortmarine1969 added 19:06 - Dec 8 Why do people keep saying ME has put the 95 mil debt into the club..!!!! He has not. 1. He bought the just shy of 30 mil intial debt for pence in the pound. - takes the debt down to 65. 2. Without doubt he has used / offset the losses in tax terms across the ME group making considerable TAX savings on his losses. Being conservative at least 1/2 mil a year if not more - so now 60 mil or less. 3. for several years the debt was also intrest bearing , now i have no idea what that amount would be but intrest on total debt i would assume would have been quite considerable - 1% is 600k as a easy example. 4 He also got advertising which is hundreds of thousands per season - with shirt / billboards / pitchside. so with 3 and 4 which i doubt we will ever see the figures for this would further reduce the overall amount considerably. to maybe under 50 mil or less if 3 and 4 eqaute to 10 mil. i know these are "grabbed figures but certainly not unreasonable. If he now sells for the reported 35 mil - his overall investment would be 15 mil or 1.5 per season to drag us to div one , no assests - training ground even owned by him , a poor sqaud and div one football... A piss poor owner who needs to be held to account , where the heck is the bloke , one scripted interview in ten years we are going down the pan yet still nothing from our mighty owner.!!

7

DoseOfReality added 19:21 - Dec 8 100% correct shotmarine. Evans has it all to answer for & the spineless fool can't even say anything. He didn't even want us to know what he looked like for the first few years. Who does he think he is ??!! You can't run an organisation like that. Sell up & clear off man.
6

runaround added 19:42 - Dec 8 Hats off to Paul Lambert & the players for the way they are going about their business but it's sad to see how far we are lagging behind. All eyes will be on Evans in January as to whether he can get the players in that Lambert has asked for? On previous experience I'm expecting to be underwhelmed! I do fear how low the club may fall but all we can do is keep supporting them every game to help turn us around. Follow the town up or down

6

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 19:48 - Dec 8 As long as we have a core of fans like our away support today, there is always hope for ITFC, whatever division we are in. Hats off! Keep it up.
8

blueboy1981 added 19:49 - Dec 8 Have the people who still believe an escape is possible really looked at what is required without dropping another single point ..... ?? - I say look at what is required, and digest ... !!! We would need a few Houdini's - and I can not see too many of those around. It is what it is - sad, but factual.
0

blueboy1981 added 19:56 - Dec 8 POSITIVES - with the youngsters we have out on loan back in the fold, and with those who are currently in our squad, we have every reason to be positive of taking League 1 by storm next season. Far more reality in that than the reality / possibility of not being relegated this season. If you don't prepare yourselves now - the shock will hit when the proverbial lady sings for the very last time. Accepting the inevitable now, will soften the blow when it hits. Should the 'miracle' happen - what a bonus to CELEBRATE .... ??

3

cantona11 added 20:17 - Dec 8 I for one love PL and the way we are playing but he changes the team in the midfield but I really think Spence and Chambers did dropping as Nsiala has something to prove as I thought he was playing ok and Donacien is our best RB at the club at the minute we are losing games so what difference will it make to change these two as I think we might see a difference and a start of the win streak PL has got to do it PLEASE !!!

0

BrettenhamBlue added 20:31 - Dec 8 Another poor result. After months of arguments my son has switched allegiance from Ipswich to Norwich. Wife says he wants a Farke jacket for Xmas. I loved taking him to matches, but he's never seen anything but failure from this club. Didn't watch the match so can't comment on the football. But never felt so bad about being an Ipswich fan. I thought I knew humiliation as an ITFC fan. Sadly, I was wrong. What next? How will this team do in league 1?

-2

dukey44 added 20:35 - Dec 8 Results will come once Spence and knudsen are dropped....
1

cat added 20:37 - Dec 8 Did not attend today's match so instead I will put my perspective on why this season has gone completely tits up. I personally blame the curse of McCarthy! as his philosophy of playing hoofball destroyed what little was left of our proud footballing traditions. Both Hurst and now Lambert favoured/favour a more expansive style, on the front foot with the ball on the deck which clearly ain't worked simply because it's been too much of a ‘TRANSITION' between these styles and 5 years of anti football playing on the back foot. The only way we can rid ourselves from McCarthys footballing destruction is to have a major cull and rid ourselves of anyone who got corrupted by the anti footballing virus the Dino bestowed on us. Fresh start required, out on loans, out of favours, youths and a couple of new footballing faces come January, as we ain't got nothing to lose and we can't do much worse.

5

toxtethblue added 20:44 - Dec 8 Sorry Sibelius, I'm about confused. If you agree with the first thing I said "he's killed the club" and you love the club, and it's sorry state hurts you as much as it does me, why have you got a problem with the second part? No, what isn't good for the club isn't people turning on ME, it's people apologising for and defending him. The ridiculously easy ride he's had from fans up to now is a major factor in us being where we are.

-2

1psw1ch added 20:56 - Dec 8 like watching the titanic sink,,slowly but surely going down,,,evans is a joke ,,,even if we got ronaldo ,,messi and modric in now still would,nt stay up,,,anyway what ever happens im ipswich till i die
1

blueboy1981 added 20:57 - Dec 8 People may well be getting what some wish for - various sources today saying that Evans has placed the Club up for sale. Spoken about tonight on EFL Goals / Highlights - so - Who Know's ??
0

warktheline added 21:39 - Dec 8 @cat, spot on, something I highlighted when McCarthy finally left, unfortunately hapless Hurst ‘half baked' plan has cemented, which was with his appointment precarious,to present day desolation! Chambers, Knudsen and Skuse should have departed, and Hurst should have rebuilt from there, unfortunately experienced strikers left, thus causing an extremely difficult situation! @blueboy, Lambert's track record over recent times as a manager is poor at best! Don't relate to your belief that ‘clubs' will require his services any time soon! Has he ‘set alight' Ipswich? Ipswich Town is going to be a long term project, something Lambert has already stated! Lambert knows chances of survival are ‘minimal', there's no doubting he's already preparing for life in league 1! Sell up and go Evans👍

1

FrankMarshall added 21:54 - Dec 8 Just putting this out there, at what point can we start judging the performance of the new manager. In general, it was agreed that Hurst was given 10 games before comments were made on performance. I'm under the assumption that this situation is different as Lambert hasn't had the opportunity to bring in players. So I would assume 15 games is fair? On nearly every occasion I have witnessed changing a manager brings a "new manager effect" which leads to short term good results. We haven't seen this with Lambert. He does talk a good game and has said all the right things, but results haven't improved Am I right in thinking we are 7 games into PL's reign? During that time: Wins :0 Draws: 2 Losses:5 We have also lost 4 games in a row now. Just bringing this up as I avidly defended Paul Hurst from extreme criticism 5 or 6 games into his reign.

3

ricardo55555 added 21:59 - Dec 8 Today the fans and team turned up the fans today were quality supporting the team throughout the game and no negative chants with the stoke fans silent for the 90 mins. The team played really well but were just unlucky that stoke happend to finish well with the 2 shots on target they had all game. Any team in this division would be chuffed with limiting a premier standard stoke side to 2 shots on target away and out shooting stoke over the match. I was really encouraged by the performance and if we play like that for the rest of season with so many teenagers in the team we will not get relegated. Wigan is a crucial game! If we loose that.... PL is the man to take us back up

1

eddiespearitt03 added 22:00 - Dec 8 Replace Spence, Chambers and Knudsen asap. On the bench should be Skuse and Sears . Bring back Woolfenden and Morris. We must build a squad for League One promotion. Possibly not part of Evans five year plan. Too much damage has been inflicted and is irreversible.
-3

eddiespearitt03 added 22:00 - Dec 8 Replace Spence, Chambers and Knudsen asap. On the bench should be Skuse and Sears . Bring back Woolfenden and Morris. We must build a squad for League One promotion. Possibly not part of Evans five year plan. Too much damage has been inflicted and is irreversible.
-1

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls