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

RobsonWark added 23:06 - Dec 8 warktheline and eddiespearitt03 I ve been saying Chambers is the week link in our team for years but the Professional managers and coaches know best. Oh well, nice to know you guys but , see you MM, see you PH and see you PL (drop the stupid **** before you get the sack too!!!)
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northessex_blue added 23:28 - Dec 8 Not a lot to say but a big applause to the travelling support. COYB
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Steve_D added 00:43 - Dec 9 How on Earth is this M M ,s fault , can't believe so much codswallop , you drove the only manager that could keep Ipswich up on the budget given , now you just can't admit you have caused this
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GiveusaWave added 00:49 - Dec 9 This mess clearly isn't MM's fault...
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Tractorboy1985 added 01:30 - Dec 9 EVANS OUT... it will click soon with some
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Minneapolis_ITFC added 01:51 - Dec 9 The above is a futile endeavor if ever there were one. First things first, I accept the team may have shown improvement and somewhat unfortunate to come away with nothing for their efforts but fact remains we're becoming more adrift of safety positions by each passing game. We need VICTORIES and MAXIMUM POINTS as frequently as able. In an ideal world that would come to pass more often than not, unfortunately we can't take opportunities that come our way or simply not consistent enough to rectify the situation we're at. Never known this club to be outside the top two leagues in considerable years of team interest, I accept now this is very likely to occur. It'll be a pity and something unwanted but at least perhaps come back better prepared and a clean start. Dare say Norwich experienced the very same thing, lo and behold look at them now.

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TonyHumesIpswich added 02:10 - Dec 9 @minneapolis ITFC I am an older supporter and come from the generation that supported the fortunes of Ipswich and Norwich. I have seen good times and bad with both clubs. However, when Norwich went down it was a very different situation and they had the personnel to spring back up. I fear for Ipswich, I really do. A few of the better players will likely be sold which will leave Ipswich with just the likes of Skuse, Chambers, Spence and co. League 1 is much tougher than people think and Ipswich will still struggle to score goals with their present strike force. Tough times ahead if this club is allowed to go down. Only real hope is that Evans gives some very serious investment in January to turn the clubs fortunes around. Looks bleak though and could be last derby game between Ipswich and Norwich for many years.

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Northstandveteran added 06:27 - Dec 9 Pjewellisagod Tell him Barnardo's is open on a Sunday 😂
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warktheline added 07:59 - Dec 9 At those excusing McCarthy's ‘part' in the club's demise, ‘your man' spent 3 years on ‘easy money' accepting Evans lack of motivation and ambition, thus allowing the club to deteriorate! Any manager ‘worth his salt' wouldn't have continued in such a manner, realising the ‘slow' but irreparable long term damage it would inflict !!! Go check McCarthy's track record, he's no ‘club builder'!!!

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Elizabeth added 08:28 - Dec 9 According to reports, it seems that ME has been trying to sell for some time ! We are in a desperate position but hopefully things can change ! I'm forever the optimistic, so hoping for a happier time in the new year .Until it's mathematically impossible for us to survive, I won't accept or resign to relegation ! We need three or four new players who are up to the task !

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Elizabeth added 08:28 - Dec 9 According to reports, it seems that ME has been trying to sell for some time ! We are in a desperate position but hopefully things can change ! I'm forever the optimistic, so hoping for a happier time in the new year .Until it's mathematically impossible for us to survive, I won't accept or resign to relegation ! We need three or four new players who are up to the task !

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Elizabeth added 08:29 - Dec 9 Oops , repeated post ! 🙄🙄
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Tractorboy1985 added 08:30 - Dec 9 My god there really are some 🛎 ends on here!! Blaming McCarthy???? It's now showing what a job the man done on a total shoestring budget supplied by the biggest failure ever to be seen in English football! That man is MARCUS EVANS!!! WAKE UP!! This man has totally destroyed this football club!! We've gone from 20-22k minimum fans every week without fail to now 17k as a good gate! It doesn't matter who is the manager this club under the totally inept Evans has failed for over 10 years and it's down to HIM!! Hurst was the worst ever.. McCarthys football was dire.. Keane was mean... Jewell was a fool.. all had decent success elsewhere.. why not here? Evans is poison and he's now looking for an easy escape! The man is a weasel! Not invested for years and been happy with McCarthy just keeping us afloat! I could go on but would be in trouble with things I would really like to say! I love ITFC and weekends now are not the same! If there was a book written ‘how to destroy a football club and it's fans in 10 years' thee author would be MARCUS EVANS!

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Royal69blue added 09:37 - Dec 9 Somebody please help me im going mad !?? Why cant PL see that we have the worlds worse fullbacks and the worse we have ever had in the history of the club It was always one our strongest postions , Mills , Thompson, Stockwell , Cresswell , Mings !! We had million pound fullbacks now ours are not worth a penny we couldnt give them away ! Sorry may be nice guys but cant tackle cant pass cant run cant throw !! No passion no desire no grit no abilty yet they get picked every week above the alternatives Why ? As i say am i mad do i need better glasses As we go down we need to do it fighting without this pathetic whimper !?

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Dissboyitfc added 10:08 - Dec 9 Blueboy81... i have looked at what is required, i know it looks bleak, but here is the thing last year Bolton stayed up with 43 points, i dont think this season its going to be so much different. We have 25 games left to gain another 34/5 points, its not title winning form that is needed, as some suggest! over the next 5 games, 3 of which are at home i can see us picking a possible 7 points. then in Jan we get a couple or 3 real quality Loanees in. We have then 20 games left to accrue the final 27/28 points needed for survival thats 1.35 points per game, thats lower mid table form. its tough but not as impossible as is being suggested on here by some. Not forgetting we have 6 pointers to come against all of our relegation rivals. If however come January we have havent added to our points total we will be looking certain for relegation however its not Jan yet and we have winnable games to come. Even though i went yesterday i didnt believe that we would come away with a win and neither did i believe we would beat forest. But i do believe we can beat Wigan, all still to play for!

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Saxonblue74 added 11:43 - Dec 9 Do any of the "Evans out" contingency have an idea of what you would like as an alternative? Do we learn nothing from other clubs who have sold their soul to billionaire owners looking for nothing more than another play thing to sit alongside their superyachts and fast cars? I personally felt a tinge of sadness when "Magical Vegas" was plastered across our shirts, first step toward becoming yet another clone club. Another 11 billboards stepping out of the tunnel week in week out. Evans invested in our club heavily in the early stages of his ownership. Unfortunately he put his faith in the likes of Roy Keane and Paul Jewell who as managers caused almost as much damage to our club as Hurst. Evans is now more experienced, maybe less naive in the game of football than during the early part of his tenure. With the right personnel alongside him, which I think he has found in Lambert, I believe our club can be succesful again. I do see more and more appreciation of MM's achievements at this club creeping in, let's not see the same "bcwywf" scenario with our owner. By the way Dave Kitson, Evans has not said we are for sale! ( EFL goals, Sky sports 08/12).

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dirtydingusmagee added 12:44 - Dec 9 COYB ,WE AINT DEAD YET !
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cat added 14:21 - Dec 9 Tractorboy1985- Bell ends! Pure class that ‘big man' lol! Tell us your opinion why it ain't happening on the pitch then????, after all we have 11 players like everyone else, Evans ain't cut the budget that much!
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Gcon added 16:37 - Dec 9 As supporters we owe it to PL to keep supporting. Can't blame him and can't blame the players. Those two goals were scored by two players bought for £23m. We just don't have that quality. Evans has run this club into the ground. Les hope he sells and we can have a fresh start under a supportive owner.
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itfchorry added 16:43 - Dec 9 Took many years but have just given Gcon an up arrow !
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runningout added 16:56 - Dec 9 Doesn't matter how much a player or two may have cost. If you are on your game as a professional playing for ITFC you can make all look damn average. Soon as we pull our socks we will be out of the muck we are close to
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Tractorboy1985 added 18:10 - Dec 9 Ain't cut the budget that much @cat 😂😂😂😂😂😂 deluded!!! Keep feeding Evans pockets ol mate!
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pragmatic added 18:55 - Dec 9 Apart from the “usual blame game” against owner/ FORMER MANAGERS/players Our immediate mission is to get behind LAMBERT & team & who knows LAMBERT may well eventually become a real iconic figure @ ITFC, big shout out to those who went to Stoke & show what real supporters are !!!
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cat added 19:16 - Dec 9 T...85 - Deluded! Ha! The only money Evans gets out of me is the £381 I paid for my season card. For the record I'm anti Evans. Question still stands though ‘big man'???????
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Tractorboy1985 added 19:48 - Dec 9 @cat I rest my case.. still supporting him ol mate! What is your point?? I've stated how can you blame McCarthy?? It's clear to see he was keeping this club afloat with totally no funds available and kept us competitive in this league something we clearly are now not! I didn't entertain his style of football one bit but I would rather see what I saw in the last 5 seasons than what I currently am! Lambert has got us playing the football we want to see however he hasn't got the players due to poor recruitment by the worst manager this club has ever seen and an owner who simply lost interest after throwing money at Keane and jewell! I don't like arguing with fellow fans but your post got my back up blaming McCarthy.. he was the best manager since BFJ.. just chucked in the deep end but constantly treaded water! Apologies for my immature reference but I care for this club and it hurts so much what this pathetic man we call our owner is doing to this club! COYB

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