Shefki Kuqi's 12th goal of the season proved decisive at Portman Road as Ipswich ended 2004 in pole position to win the race for promotion to the Premiership.

The Finnish striker led from the front in a dominant Town display and gained reward for an impressive individual effort with a clinical winner 11 minutes before the break.

That ensured the Tractor Boys will be top of the Coca-Cola Championship table heading into the new year and on the evidence of this performance only a major slump will be enough to prevent them making their top-flight dream a reality.

Town boss Joe Royle restored Jim Magilton to the starting line-up after the 36-year-old was dropped to the bench for the 3-1 defeat by Millwall.

Meanwhile, Stoke were without John Halls after he was forced off with a leg injury against Preston.

Lewis Buxton deputised and he and his defensive colleagues immediately found themselves under pressure as the hosts started brightly.

There was an early scare for Town when, after just a few seconds, Darren Bent went down clutching his face having appeared to run into his marker. But the in-form striker soon proved he was not too badly shaken as he latched on to Kuqi's flick, only to shoot straight at goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.

Tommy Miller was next to try his hand with a close-range snapshot that Wayne Thomas did brilliantly to block before Kuqi was denied by a risky last-ditch tackle from Michael Duberry.

Then the Finn went close again after 19 minutes only for Buxton to get his body in the way of another goal-bound shot.

Stoke were struggling to get out of their own half and seemed happy enough to play on the counter with two rigid banks of four protecting Simonsen's goal.

But only some superb defending kept Ipswich at bay after 25 minutes as striker Ade Akinbiyi headed Darren Currie's inswinging corner off the line.

Currie had a chance again on the half-hour mark when Ian Westlake was caught by Carl Asaba on the edge of the box, but the former Brighton midfielder miscued his free-kick.

However, it was only a matter of time before Ipswich made the breakthrough and 11 minutes before the break the inevitable opener finally arrived.

Kuqi again showed his strength as he shook off the attentions of his marker on the edge of the box and, after he had played a delightful one-two with Westlake to carve open the Potters defence, the Finn made no mistake with a clipped finish past Simonsen.

Stoke came out with a bit more purpose after the break and after 51 minutes Clive Clarke's drilled effort was blocked by Westlake.

But the pace and power of Bent and Kuqi was still causing them plenty of problems at the other end and just past the hour mark the former should have done better with a close-range header after he had got ahead of his marker at the back post.

Bent's touch let him down again 10 minutes later as Duberry got back to tackle after the Potters had given the ball away in midfield.

Then substitute Kevin Horlock - on as a 75th minute replacement for Magilton - almost enjoyed a dream introduction as blasted over the crossbar after the ball broke for him on the edge of the box.

Time was running out for Stoke and a speculative John Eustace effort was all they could muster in reply.

And with four minutes left Bent almost wrapped things up with a stinging 25-yarder that Simonsen just managed to palm over.

Teams:

Ipswich Davis, Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor, Richards, Miller, Magilton (Horlock 76), Westlake, Currie, Bent, Kuqi.

Subs Not Used: Counago, Bowditch, Karbassiyoon, Supple.

Goals: Kuqi 34.

Stoke Simonsen, Buxton, Thomas, Duberry, Hill, Russell (Eustace 73), Brammer (Henry 55), Clarke, Asaba, Noel-Williams (Greenacre 74), Akinbiyi.

Subs Not Used: de Goey, Neal.

Booked: Buxton, Henry.

Att: 26,217

Ref: L Mason (Lancashire).