Football: BRING ON THE TOON; Delap backs his power-packed Potters to drive Geordies potty Ipswich 1 Stoke 1.

Byline: By DAVE ALLARD

STOKE'S Rory Delap fired a warning to Newcastle after his side gained a worthy point in this promotion battle.

Midfielder Delap, whose Potteries outfit face the managerless Magpies in an FA Cup third round replay at St James' Park on Wednesday, declared: "They won't be fancying facing us again."

An Ipswich team unbeaten at home in the league since March found out just how hard a visit from Stoke can be.

Delap, whose team are now unbeaten home or away in League and Cup for 12 matches said: "Ipswich had the better of the first 20 minutes but after that we had most of the good chances.

"I felt we finished the stronger team against a good Ipswich side. We deserved a point at a place where so many teams have lost this season."

Anyone thinking the big Cup replay on Tyneside might affect Tony Pulis' men at Portman Road were wrong as the visitors showed themselves to be genuine Championship contenders against opposition now three places below them in seventh spot.

Delap continued: "This match at Ipswich was a big one for us but now we can concentrate on Newcastle. We are a big and strong team. Newcastle know we will go at them. I'm sure they won't be fancying facing us again."

Stoke, who have lost away only twice all season, made their physical presence felt on Saturday and also moved the ball around effectively.

But they fell behind in the 19th minute as young Ipswich attacker Danny Haynes struck with a fourth goal of the season.

He came in from the right to evade Carl Dickinson and finish with a low angled drive that flew off the far post and into net. But Stoke grew stronger and stronger as the match went on, especially after Ricardo Fuller levelled on 32 minutes.

The big striker, once an Ipswich loanee doing his days at Southampton, took a ball from Danny Pugh to crash home his 12th goal of the season with an angled drive from the left.

Fuller missed a golden opportunity to secure a victory for Stoke in the 74th minute.

He beat two Ipswich defenders for pace and faced keeper Neil Alexander in a one-to-one situation. Fuller elected to try and go round Alexander instead of shooting.

The home keeper was up for the challenge as he dived bravely at Fuller's feet to save his side.

Ipswich scorer Haynes revealed how daunting a test a visit from Stoke is these days. He said that boss Jim Magilton had told the team to "stand up and be counted".

Haynes went on: "We were not intimidated and I think we deserved a draw."

Not long after his goal Haynes had a strong shot well saved by Stoke keeper Steve Simonsen.

He also went close with a long shot in the second half, as did team-mate David Wright.

CAPTION(S):

FULLER PRAISE: Ricardo Fuller (right) after levelling for Stoke; HANDY FINISHER: Haynes celebrates; MAKING HAY: Danny Haynes fires Ipswich ahead