Jaden Philogene scored his seventh goal of the season to give Ipswich Town victory over Stoke City and consolidate their place in the Championship's top six.

The 23-year-old, a former loanee with the Potters, curled in a superb opener within 100 seconds of kick-off to lift the Tractor Boys up to fourth in the table.

The hosts had further opportunities to increase their lead, with Ivan Azon having two great chances to add to the scoreline.

Stoke dominated possession for large parts of the game but struggled to create any clear chances.

It took just under two minutes for Ipswich to build on their most recent victory - Saturday's 3-0 success against leaders Coventry.

Philogene cut inside from the left and exchanged a one-two with Marcelino Nunez before curling a beautiful shot past the stranded Viktor Johansson.

Stoke tried to respond immediately and a corner was nodded across the goal, but Steven Nzonzi and Lamine Cisse got in each other's way, with neither player able to convert from close range.

Azon really should have made it 2-0 for the hosts after 19 minutes.

Stoke goalkeeper Johansson rushed out of his area and only partially cleared a loose ball into the path of Leif Davis, whose speculative effort from long range was well saved by the retreating Johansson - only for it to fall to Azon, who smashed his 18-yard effort way over the bar.

Azon was to go close again during the final throes of the first half following good work on the edge of the Stoke box, only for the Como loanee to screw his shot wide of the post.

While Ipswich were enjoying the better chances in front of goal, it was the visitors who were dominating possession and playing the neatest football, albeit without any end product.

At the other end, Azon went close again before the hour mark when he managed to rise unmarked to meet a corner - only for his header to be easily held by Johansson.

And Kieran McKenna's men could have added a second in the 83rd minute when they caught the visitors on the break. Jack Clarke fed the ball to Nunez on the left side of the box, with the Chilean curling a shot towards the top right corner, but Johansson made a fine save.

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk:

"It was a brilliant goal and one to really enjoy. It's similar to a few we've scored down here over the years in terms of build-up on the right side, then switch to the left side and then of course brilliant quality from Jaden in a combination with [Nunez] and a brilliant strike. It was a great way to start the game.

"You have to give Stoke credit. In the first half they played really well, they went 1-0 down and they were throwing the kitchen sink at it in terms of pressing us a lot.

"There was a lot of space for us and we just couldn't get the final pass. We missed a big chance to go 2-0 up that might have knocked the stuffing out of them, but we didn't and they kept pushing and pushing.

"It was good to get to half-time. We knew we had to make some more passes and not go for the goal so quickly, even though there was space there. The second-half performance was really good and was only missing the last bit of execution to open up the margin on the scoreline."

Stoke boss Mark Robins told BBC Radio Stoke:

"It was a close game. One bit of quality came from them in the second minute, they took their chance and scored.

"From our perspective, we created not enough. From the back to the final third, we were really good.

"We moved the ball really well and the final pass, the final decision that's going to get you a shot or create something, is missing. We're taking the wrong option or not seeing the right one. When we get the chance for that final ball to create an opportunity, we're getting it wrong.

"Those are the things that are frustrating because, to me, that is easy.

"There were numerous occasions in the game where if we just take a little bit more care or we have a little bit more incisiveness, we'll win games.

"Back to front was really good, but the final third, final ball, final shot and final creativity was lacking against a really decent team who have started to roll into gear."