Liam Lawrence's 71st minute goal consigned the Blues to a 1-0 home defeat against Stoke. The Blues dominated possession for long spells but created too few decent opportunities, the best of which was a shot by Gavin Williams which deflected wide off Gary Roberts.

As expected, the Blues lined-up unchanged from the side which defeated Leeds 1-0 last week.

Within seconds of the start former Town loanee Ricardo Fuller was away beyond the Town defence but struck his shot over Lewis Price's cross bar.

But the Blues were soon on top and passing the ball around fluently and patiently. On nine, Dan Harding ended a strong run in from the left with a shot which was too weak to trouble Steve Simonsen in the Stoke goal.

Salif Diao received the first yellow card of the game in the 10th minute for a foul on Jon Macken. From the freekick, Owen Garvan curled the ball just wide. Referee Uriah Rennie was again quick to use his cards in the 16th minute when Lee Hendrie fouled Gavin Williams.

Town had dominated the first half hour of the game but had failed to test former England U21 international Simonsen.

Stoke made rare forays into the Town half in the 34th minute, Mamady Sidibe shooting straight at Price from the edge of the area, then Fuller looping the ball over the bar from just inside the box.

On 41 Gary Roberts dispossessed Hendrie on the Town left 25 yards out and fed Alan Lee. The striker took the ball on towards the area but his shot lacked the power to beat Simonsen.

Gavin Williams got his name in the over-fussy Mr Rennie's book, then a neat move down the Stoke right ended with Fuller hitting a low shot into the sidenetting.

Just before the break, Macken's strike was saved by Simonsen, but again the shot lacked power.

Town had shown that they were able to pass the ball around well throughout the first half but had rarely created anything which would test keeper Steve Simonsen.

Stoke started the second half brightly and former Canary Darel Russell hit a shot straight at Lewis Price in the first minute.

Price was in trouble moments later, Ricardo Fuller beating the Welshman to a cross in from the right and heading the ball goalwards. Fortunately, Richard Naylor was well-placed to clear.

Stoke keeper Simonsen required lengthy treatment after a ball in from the right by Gavin Williams had caused a collision between the ex-Everton man, Alan Lee and Stoke defender Lewis Buxton.

On 56 Gavin Williams played through Jon Macken on the right, but the loanee from Crystal Palace shot into the sidenet.

Just before the hour, Liam Lawrence lobbed the ball over the bar from close range after beating Jason De Vos to a Lee Hendrie cross from the left. It was a bad miss and the Blues were lucky to still be on terms. Danny Haynes replaced Alan Lee in the in the 63rd minute, joining Jon Macken up front.

Town were very close to going in front two minutes later, Gavin Williams brought the ball forward to the edge of the area and, with options either side of him, lashed a shot which seemed destined to ripple the net until it struck Gary Roberts and deflected wide of Simonsen's right post.

Williams's strong runs forward were increasing in frequency and soon after the Welshman teed-up Sylvain Legwinski 25 yards out, but the Frenchman sent the ball wide.

Stoke went in front in the 71st minute. Lee Hendrie was allowed to break unchecked on the left but was held up by Richard Naylor on the edge of the area. However, Liam Lawrence arrived quicker than the Town midfield and drove Hendrie's lay-off beyond Price and into the net. For Stoke it was a case of Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, while Jason De Vos and other defenders pointed the finger at Gary Roberts still on halfway.

Town went about getting back on terms but rarely controlled the game as they had prior to the break. Owen Garvan sentom a 25-yard freekick over, before Richard Naylor put in an important toe to loop the ball away from Sidibe and over the bar.

Jaime Peters took over from Alex Bruce at right-back, prior to Price mishandling a Fuller shot wide. As the game entered its final two minutes, Simon Walton replaced Roberts.

Surprisingly, referee Uriah Rennie added only three minutes of injury time despite a lengthy late stoppage for an injury to Stoke's Dave Brammer. The Potters' backline continued to defend stoutly and an effort wide from Gavin Williams and a strike over from Macken failed to test Simonsen.

Town showed their strengths and weaknesses in equal measure. The Blues held onto the ball for most of the first half but failed to create anything clear cut, while too many shots from around the box were sent high and wide and Stoke's defenders won everything in the air in their own box.

The goal came from the Town midfield not tracking back, as was also the case in the Burnley game earlier in the month.

Not the ideal way to start the Christmas fixtures with a tricky trip to Coventry next on Boxing Day.

Town: Price, Bruce (Peters 83), Harding, De Vos, Naylor, Legwinski, Garvan, Williams, Roberts (Walton 88), Lee (Haynes 63), Macken. Unused: Supple, Richards. Att: 20,369.

Photo: Action Images

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