Stoke extended their unbeaten run in the Coca-Cola Championship to seven games with a deserved victory over Colchester at the Britannia Stadium.

On-loan Manchester United defender Ryan Shawcross rose highest to nod home Liam Lawrence's corner with just eight minutes gone to reward the hosts for their first-half dominance.

Clive Platt drew Colchester level with an opportunist header just before the hour before Lawrence sealed victory with a well-taken finish with 17 minutes remaining.

The win preserved Stoke's unbeaten home record so far this season and ended Colchester's unblemished away record.

Influential midfielder Rory Delap came back into the Potters starting XI after recovering from a groin injury, while Colchester boss Geraint Williams kept faith with the same team that brushed aside QPR in midweek.

Tony Pulis' side wasted no time in making their attacking intentions clear, John Eustace testing Colchester goalkeeper Dean Gerken from long range after only 24 seconds.

Eustace, who was making his first home league start for six months, was clearly feeling in confident mood as he volleyed a 30-yard effort narrowly wide of Gerken's post six minutes later.

But the Potters did not have to wait long for the breakthrough after good work from Mamady Sidibe down the right resulted in a corner.

Lawrence delivered an inch-perfect cross to the back post for Shawcross to power his header past Gerken.

Stoke continued to dominate and Richard Cresswell should have doubled their advantage from another corner, but he could only to direct his header narrowly wide with Gerken beaten.

Cresswell again found himself with the goal at his mercy midway through the first-half, but once more his header failed to trouble the goalkeeper.

The visitors gradually managed to claw their way back into the encounter as the half wore on and Mark Yeates was unlucky to see his effort fly narrowly wide of Steve Simonsen's left-hand post.

Yet Shawcross should have grabbed a second for Stoke in the closing stages of the half, only to fail to make any connection with the goal at his mercy.

Neither side managed to impose themselves on the game immediately after the break, but it was the visitors who drew themselves level.

Danny Granville picked up the ball on the left wing and whipped in a great cross which fell into the path of the onrushing Platt who headed home from close range.

Ricardo Fuller attempted to fire the hosts back in front just a minute later but he dragged his effort wide of Gerken's post.

However, Stoke did get their just rewards midway through the second half when Fuller laid a great pass across the penalty area for Lawrence to fire into the top corner from 12 yards out.

Substitute Jon Parkin had a chance to add a third late on but his close-range effort drifted harmlessly over the crossbar.

Teams

Stoke Simonsen, Wright, Shawcross, Matteo,Wilkinson (Dickinson 42), Cresswell, Delap, Eustace,Lawrence (Sweeney 90), Fuller, Sidibe (Parkin 67).

Subs Not Used: Hoult, Pericard.

Booked: Lawrence.

Goals: Shawcross 8, Lawrence 73.

Colchester Gerken, Duguid (Balogh 33), Baldwin, Virgo,Elokobi, Granville (Guy 77), Jackson, Izzet, Yeates, Lisbie,Platt.

Subs Not Used: Davison, Guttridge, Connolly.

Booked: Balogh, Guy.

Goals: Platt 58.

Att: 12,395

Ref: Clive Penton (Sussex).