Stoke hoped to improve on their poor league position today with UEFA Cup challengers Ipswich visiting, it wouldn't be an easy three points but The Potters managed to pull it off to win 2-1.
A slow scrappy start finally produced a real chance in the tenth minute when a slip from Hermann Hreidarsson nearly allowed the pressing Andrew Cooke to have a run at goal but a good recovery prevented it.
The Potters hit fairly early in the 17th minute when a central free kick from 30 yards by Bjami Gudjonsson hung over the Ipswich box where Sergei Shtaniuk rose above the defence to nod the ball over Andy Marshall.
Ipswich tried to pull one back before the break when a long ball to the by-line by Hreidarsson found Fabien Wilnis who played into the box for Pablo Counago, but his half-volley flew over the bar.
The second half proved more challenging for Stoke with Ipswich stepping up the tempo and pressure.
Thomas nearly made it 2-0 in the 58th minute when a Gudjonsson ball from way out found him at the back post, but he could only manage to put it over the bar.
The Tractor Boys did get a goal in the 68th minute when a slip at the back by Clive Clarke allowed Darren Ambrose to cross, with Matthew Holland pressuring, and force Brynjar Gunnarsson to put the ball in his own net.
Stoke finished the job in the 79th minute when Gudjonsson spread the ball to the left where Kris Commons came inside to cross to Cooke who tapped in from two yards.
Ipswich boss George Burley said: "Our first half performance was unacceptable. There was no passion and no appetite."
"After we scored I thought we would go on to win but it was not to be, we've got to pick ourselves up and get on with it."