Miller - went close for hosts (Getty Images)
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Stoke received a boost in their battle to avoid relegation by claiming an
unlikely point off Ipswich on a pudding of a pitch at Portman Road.
After the match had started 15 minutes late because of crowd congestion, it
looked like a matter of how many goals Division One play-off contenders Ipswich
would win by.
But the hosts had to make two first-half substitutions because of injuries -
and their strikers, Darren and Marcus Bent, endured a day to forget.
Stoke lost forward Lee Mills to injury after just three minutes - and he was
replaced by Andy Cooke.
The home side could have gone ahead in the seventh minute when Hermann
Hreidarsson put the ball wide from a good position - while Darren Bent forced
the first save from Stoke's on-loan goalkeeper Mark Crossley.
After 15 minutes Tommy Miller fired over the crossbar, and Darren Bent should
have done much better shortly afterwards when he screwed the ball wide after
Stoke had struggled to clear a corner.
The first blow for Joe Royle's team came after 22 minutes when Hreidarsson had
to go off with a knee injury, Matt Richards taking his place - and the Icelandic
defender was followed to the dressing room by Miller as he took a knock and made
way for Martijn Reuser.
Full-back Chris Makin created the first chance of the second period, crossing
for Darren Bent to head wide from close range - and the home strikers' nightmare
in front of goal continued when Marcus Bent tried to lob the ball over Crossley
but put it past the post.
Royle made his final change just before the hour, sending on Richard Naylor to
see if he could succeed where the Bent boys were failing.
Thomas Gaardsoe saw his header parried away by Crossley from Reuser's corner -
and the goalkeeper also held efforts from Naylor and Matt Holland as Stoke
resisted everything Ipswich could throw at them.
Teams
Ipswich: Marshall, Wilnis, Gaardsoe, Hreidarsson (Richards 23),
Makin, Wright, Magilton, Holland, Miller (Reuser 26),
Marcus Bent, Darren Bent, Richards (Naylor 60).
Subs Not Used: Bowditch, Pullen.
Stoke: Crossley, Richardson, Handyside, Shtanuk, Marcus Hall,
Clarke, Gunnarsson, O'Connor, Marteinsson (Neal 66),
Mills (Cooke 4), Greenacre (Iwelumo 66).
Subs Not Used: Banks, Gudjonsson.
Booked: Cooke.
Att: 24,547
Ref: L Mason (Lancashire).
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