But despite propping up the division and currently sitting nine points adrift of safety, Lambert believes that Town were the better of the two sides.

The Scot, who spent five months at Stoke earlier this year as the club were relegated from the Premier League, said: "I thought we were the better team, I really did.

"I have just said to them (the players) in there how proud I am of them, how we came here and dominated the game against a team who won't be far away from going up.

"It was two moments that hurt us, we have a really young side and everyone of our lads were brilliant, our play with the ball was excellent.

"I couldn't ask anymore with the way that we came here and played, we don't look like a team who are bottom of the table, the result is the way it is but performance wise I thought we were excellent.

"I know this league and if you go on a run, you can catapult up the table, so where there is light and hope, we'll keep going, we don't look like a team at the bottom, we'll keep going."

In a first half which lacked clear-cut opportunities on goal, Jack Lankester forced home goalkeeper Jack Butland into a low stop as Ipswich started brightly.

Stoke were in front in first-half stoppage time after Sam Clucas threaded a ball into the path of Ince, who drove his low right-footed shot through the legs of goalkeeper Dean Gerken.

After the break, Flynn Downes struck straight at Butland for Ipswich before the hosts went 2-0 up in the 60th minute after Allen connected with Pieters cross from the left.

Stoke boss Gary Rowett was pleased with the three points but demanded a higher standard from his men.

He said: "It was a good result. The positives are a clean sheet, two goals of really good quality, both the goals were of excellent quality, and we have won a game which puts our recent run of form and run of points into a much better light, which we knew we would do today.

"What I have to say is, we didn't play any near as well as we need to, we didn't show enough energy and enough composure at times or really put the game to bed.

"I thought Ipswich came and performed really well for Paul, if they play like that they won't be bottom of the league, but we have to be better and our standards have to be better than that.

"We didn't look like we had the same zip or energy about us at times today.

"I'm very pleased with the result, but disappointed with a lot of aspects of our play."

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