Stoke replaced Town as Championship leaders after twice coming from behind to beat the Blues 3-2 at the Britannia Stadium. It was a scrappy game from which Town will feel unfortunate not to have gained a point.

The Blues lined-up unchanged and had the first opportunity of the match when Darren Bent was sent away by Ian Westlake, only for Stoke keeper Ed De Goey to save his shot.

The swirling wind and periodic rain made the game tricky, especially for defenders. On 13 Kelvin Davis had a clearance blocked by Ade Akinbiyi after the ball had slowed down dramatically as it ran to him. Drissa Diallo got on to the loose ball and the danger was gone.

Stoke midfielder Dave Brammer forced his own keeper into a save in the 23rd minute when he deflected a Drissa Diallo cross towards the top corner of the net. From the corner, Jason De Vos headed wide when he might have done better.

Richard Naylor found his way into the referee's book for handball just outside the area, the freekick deflecting off the wall for a corner.

After the deep corner was nodded back across goal, Kelvin Davis did well to get down to his right and push away Gifton Noel-Williams's header which really should have given the keeper no chance.

Almost immediately, Davis sent a long ball forward for Shefki Kuqi, the Finn getting beyond the defence with only De Goey to beat. His low shot struck the advancing keeper and Darel Russell got back to clear before the Town striker could get in a second shot on goal.

It was a chance which should have seen the Blues into a lead. Soon after, a Darren Bent shot deflected to De Goey and a Tommy Miller strike was little trouble for the Dutch stopper.

On 38 Clive Clarke's shot was saved by Kelvin Davis as Stoke put on a bit of pressure. However, Town were only three minutes away from going ahead.

Jim Magilton and Ian Westlake played a short corner on the left before sending in a cross which Jason De Vos headed into the net for his first Town goal.

But the home side were to hit back two minutes later. Kelvin Davis came for, but failed to reach - perhaps due to a foul - a deep, wind-assisted Brammer corner on the Stoke right, defender Wayne Thomas heading in off Town defenders on the line.

Both sets of fans probably went in reasonably happy at the break, the managers making no changes and the game continuing in its rather disjointed manner.

Darel Russell picked up a yellow card for a late challenge on Fabian Wilnis on 51, surprisingly Stoke's first booking of the game.

Jason De Vos put a Kevin Horlock corner wide in the 53rd minute, before Fabian Wilnis tried to make full use of the conditions with a 30-yard shot, but watched as the ball flew well over.

Just before the hour, Stoke replaced Ed De Goey with Steve Simonsen, the former Chelsea keeper having had trouble kicking since the beginning of the second half.

Ade Akinbiyi headed a corner on to the bar in the 57th minute as Town again had trouble at a set piece. The Blues made their first substitution not long after, weekend hero Pablo Couñago replacing Shefki Kuqi.

Four minutes later, the Blues were back in front. Jim Magilton picked up a loose ball in midfield, passed to Tommy Miller who played in Darren Bent on the left. The striker looked certain to shoot but laid the ball across to Ian Westlake who tapped home from six yards.

Stoke almost hit back within a minute, Ade Akinbiyi escaping his marker but Kelvin Davis blocking his shot with his legs.

A Darren Bent run down the right ended with Simonsen grabbing the ball ahead of Couñago but it was the Potters who were enjoying most of the attacking play in the last half an hour.

On 71, Stoke's Clive Clarke was lucky to stay on the pitch for kicking out at Fabian Wilnis after the ball had gone out for a Town goalkick. Referee Mike Dean showed a yellow card.

Stoke claimed a penalty in the 74th minute when Noel-Williams's shot appeared to strike Richard Naylor's hand and go out for a corner. However, the home fans quickly forgot about their appeal when Thomas was left unmarked at the far post where he headed in past Davis who this time had remained on his line.

A Bent shot was little problem for Simonsen, but it was the Potters who were looking more likely to score until John Halls got himself needlessly sent off for two challenges in 120 seconds either side of the 80th minute.

Some referees might have felt his first late tackle on Fabian Wilnis was worth a straight red card in itself but when Halls repeated the assault shortly afterwards Mr Dean had little choice but to give the former Arsenal man his marching orders.

Once Halls had made the surprisingly lengthy walk off the field, the game was there for Town to make their own. However, it was Tony Pulis's men who would net for a third time.

Jason De Vos and Clive Clarke were off the field after a clash of heads when the ball was played forward towards the Town box. There seemed to be some hesitancy as the ball was caught by the wind, Richard Naylor heading to Ade Akinbiyi while behind him Kelvin Davis had come off the line for the ball. The Stoke striker was able to play the ball into an open goal before running to celebrate with the crowd.

Town threw on Dean Bowditch for Fabian Wilnis but to little effect and Stoke continued to have more of the ball. Late on, Kevin Horlock picked up a yellow card for a foul on Karl Henry.

A disappointing result from a game played in difficult conditions. Despite going ahead twice, the Blues never really convinced but while three points would have flattered, a draw was probably a fair result.

All three Stoke goals came from set pieces, a common occurrence last season which looked to have been overcome this year. The Blues had a great deal of trouble from Stoke playing high balls into the box, particularly in the second half, although the strong wind certainly didn't help matters.

Town: Davis, Diallo, Wilnis (Bowditch 86), Naylor, De Vos, Magilton, Miller, Westlake, Horlock, Bent, Kuqi (Couñago 58).

Photo: Action Images

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