Stoke came back from two goals down but could not find a winner against a
patched-up Ipswich side.
Jason De Vos' header and a thumping Fabian Wilnis strike saw Ipswich race into
a two-goal lead inside 20 minutes.
But Darel Russell pulled one back for the hosts before half-time and Mamady
Sidibe levelled in the 73rd minute.
City pressed in search of a decisive goal but had to settle for their first
draw since the opening day of the season as they ended a run of three straight
defeats.
Ipswich were forced into six changes from the side that beat Luton 1-0 on
Saturday but despite that upheaval they quickly clicked into gear.
Darren Currie had a powerful early effort caught by Potters goalkeeper Steve
Simonsen and City defender Carl Hoefkens also did well to get a toe to Ian
Westlake's low effort after a swift break.
But after six minutes they were in front when De Vos rose unchallenged to head
past Simonsen from Currie's corner. City were sluggish and Dave Brammer and Luke
Chadwick both hit well off target from distance and Lewis Buxton had two
close-range efforts blocked from Paul Gallagher's corner.
After another slick spell of possession, Wilnis doubled the lead with a
thumping effort in the 19th minute.
Currie toyed with Marlon Broomes on the left and his cross found Wilnis on the
other side of the area.
The right-back's initial strike was well saved by Simonsen but rebounded
straight out to the defender, who drove the ball inside the far post.
But midway through the opening period the Potters pulled one back when
Sambegou Bangoura robbed Aidan Collins on halfway and slipped the ball right to
Russell inside the area for the midfielder to squeeze the ball inside the near
post.
The home team continued to pressurise, and went particularly close from a
couple of Gallagher corners, while Bangoura was also guilty of a bad miss as Joe
Royle's men led at the break.
Karl Henry replaced Broomes and Stoke continued to pound away looking for an
equaliser, although Ipswich looked much more solid after half-time.
And a Westlake drive that flew just over the bar was a reminder that the
visitors were still dangerous on the break.
Stoke were unable to force anything like the pressure they had in the opening
period but Bangoura should have equalised when he was played into the box by
Gallagher, only to have his shot blocked by Town goalkeeper Shane Supple.
But with 18 minutes remaining, City finally levelled when Sidibe nodded home
Brammer's near-post corner.
Ipswich could have taken another shock lead 10 minutes later but Gavin
Williams' shot was saved after Westlake's pass split the City defence.
Making his Stoke debut as a substitute after joining on a free-transfer from
Norwegian club Viking, Peter Kopteff broke past Wilnis but had his powerful
strike saved.
Bangoura had another effort blocked and despite another couple of nervous
corners for Supple, Ipswich clung on for a point.
Teams
Stoke Simonsen, Hoefkens, Broomes (Henry 45), Duberry, Buxton,
Chadwick (Harper 60), Russell, Brammer, Gallagher (Kopteff 70),
Bangoura, Sidibe.
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Sweeney.
Booked: Chadwick, Broomes.
Goals: Russell 27, Sidibe 73.
Ipswich Supple, Wilnis, De Vos, Barron, Richards,
Magilton (Juan 71), Williams, Collins, Westlake,
McDonald (Proudlock 88), Currie.
Subs Not Used: Horlock, Garvan, Price.
Goals: De Vos 7, Wilnis 18.
Att: 14,493
Ref: L Probert (Gloucestershire).
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