"However, this time we kept a clean sheet and that is a massive plus. Kelvin Davis hardly had a shot to save.
"Stoke are hard work to play against. I said when we went there it was like Land of the Giants, and they haven't got any smaller!
"Had we been 3-0 up at half-time, I could have rested people and it would have been game over, but we continued to defend properly.
"Our players are very fit, they have only been out-run once this season. It's a case of getting the right blend of rest and hard work. We will give them a good rest now before we go again.
"We're back averaging two points a game and are still the highest scorers in the division and I'm proud of that. I realise the fans here expect us to play in a certain way and I feel we do."
Meanwhile Stoke City manager Tony Pulis admitted: "We never turned up in the first half and Ipswich were by far the more superior team until their goal. We had some good opportunities but never managed to hit the target.
"We are what we are. You deal with the hand you are dealt. Joe has a fantastic side here, but that is largely down to the Ipswich Academy system. We are a decent crop of players too though.
"I do like the Christmas programme and the Easter programme, but I would like to see more local derby matches. We had four hours of travelling time and an early kick-off time which didn't help us."