Stoke 1-0 Ipswich

Liam Lawrence, centre, celebrates

Stoke retained top spot in the Championship thanks to a fabulous strike from the in-form Liam Lawrence.

The midfielder bagged a brace last time out and his goal was the difference here, his 25-yard drive sailing past keeper Stephen Bywater into the corner.

Ricardo Fuller almost extended the lead before Town's Velice Sumulikoski forced a smart save from Steve Simonsen.

Defeat sees Ipswich fall out of the play-off places, with Jim Magilton sent to the stands after a second-half row.

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Stoke boss Tony Pulis:
"This is a tough league and there is still a quarter of the season to go. I've been in the game too long to get too excited yet.

"If we treat the last 12 games any differently than we have the first 34, we will end up with our pants pulled down and have our backsides slapped.

"The players are working exceptionally hard and we have got to keep that up."

Ipswich boss Jim Magilton:
"We defended very well and we were competitive throughout, but we just didn't have enough quality in the final third."

Magilton was sent to the stands in the second half after complaining about Stoke's multi-ball system.

"The ball wasn't coming back in quickly enough as we chased the game. I just don't think it's fair."

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Stoke: Simonsen, Griffin, Shawcross, Cort, Dickinson, Lawrence, Delap, Whelan, Cresswell, Sidibe (Diao 81), Fuller.
Subs Not Used: Fulop, Parkin, Gallagher, Wilkinson.

Booked: Lawrence.

Goals: Lawrence 42.

Ipswich: Bywater, Bruce, Naylor, De Vos, Harding, Norris (Garvan 76), Sumulikoski, Miller, Quinn (Haynes 46), Walters, Lee (Counago 72).
Subs Not Used: Colgan, Wright.

Att: 23,563.

Ref: Michael Jones (Cheshire).