LATE DRAMA SEES CITY NET POINT IN THRILLER

Stoke City 3 Ipswich Town 3

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Stoke City players celebrate.

STOKE City needed a Milan Smit penalty in the fifth minute of injury time to rescue a point against Ipswich having led by two at the break.

Stoke were ruthless as they pressed Ipswich in the first half and led thanks to Smit’s first goal for the club and a well-taken strike from Bae Junho.

But Ipswich were a different beast when they came out following the interval. Wes Burns made it 2-1 with a deflection before Jack Taylor levelled with a volley.

‘The visitors thought they had won it when sub George Hirst struck with eight minutes left - but Stoke sub Lamine Cisse was brought down with 30 seconds left of stoppage time and Smit stepped up to calmly tap in the equaliser. A chaotic game in a chaotic division.

Mark Robins had made five changes to his starting XI, missing Sorba Thomas through suspension, Ben Wilmot through a season-ending injury and Ben Pearson through illness. Junior Tchamadeu made his first start since mid-December, Maksym Talovierov was back in central defence, Tomas Rigo back in central midfield, Million Manhoef returned on the right wing and Milan Smit was back at centre-forward. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi switched to the left wing.

Ashley Phillips led Stoke out as captain for the first time, a rare feat for a 20-year-old loan player, even if he admits himself that he forgets he’s only a loan player.