Ephron Mason-Clark scored a dramatic late goal as Coventry beat Stoke 1-0 to stretch their lead at the top of the Sky Bet Championship.
Mason-Clark smashed home a brilliant bicycle kick from Ellis Simms’ corner with four minutes of regular time to go to seal a deserved win.
The wingman received lengthy treatment before being substituted following the winner after Junior Tchamadeu landed on him while going for the ball.
Coventry had dominated throughout and saw a number of good chances go begging.
Viktor Johansson was twice called on to keep out the impressive Victor Torp as the Sky Blues turned the screw in the opening 30 minutes.
But it was the hosts who wasted the best chance of the half when Million Manhoef missed the ball completely with the goal at his mercy.
Mason-Clark, Bobby Thomas and Haji Wright all saw chances wasted as City continued to keep up the pressure.
But the pressure finally paid off when Mason-Clark bravely turned home the corner to give the Sky Blues a sixth win in seven.
Bae Junho had an early shot from distance blocked for a corner by Matt Grimes.
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Incredible scenes as Ephron Mason-Clark wins it late on for Coventry with an unbelievable bicycle kick
Johansson made an excellent save from Torp’s fierce free-kick in the sixth minute as the Sky Blues began to get into their stride.
Coventry saw shouts for a penalty waved away after Brandon Thomas-Assante went down under a Ben Wilmot challenge.
Johansson tipped over Torp’s well-hit shot from the edge of the box in the 18th minute as the leaders kept up the pressure.
Wilmot had a flicked header turned behind for a corner after Million Manhoef picked him out with a deep cross.
Manhoef failed to put Stoke ahead when he fluffed his shot after Sorba Thomas had picked him out in the 32nd minute.
The lively Torp blazed another good chance wide from 20 yards after Mason-Clark teed him up three minutes later.
Pearson produced a key block to charge down a Torp shot as Coventry increased the pressure before half-time.
Mason-Clark won a corner following a good run in the opening seconds of the second half as Coventry quickly got into their stride.
Bobby Thomas headed wide from a corner from inside the six-yard box after stretching to meet Torp’s cross.
Mason-Clark tested Johanson from distance with a low shot which the Stoke keeper gathered at the second attempt.
Wright failed to find the target with distance following a good run through midfield in the 70th minute.
Mason-Clark saw a shot deflected just wide minutes later after he beat Tchamadeu in a tussle for the ball.
But the breakthrough came when Mason-Clark bravely turned home a Simms corner to give Coventry a fifth away win of the season.
The managers
Stoke’s Mark Robins:
“We have to take some realism and look at where we are. We were almost relegated last year.
“The feeling around the place is positive and we have to be happy with where we are, but we have to push to improve. We can’t push too fast, but we are on the right track. This is where we want to be. When you play in these fixtures you have to be at your best.
“We have had a really decent start, but it is still really early days. We still know we are not quite where we need to be. There are still some young players there.
“There was not much in the game, but when key moments come we have to be right at it. We have worked hard and got into some good positions but lacked that touch.
“I can’t remember them creating a great deal but they found a way to win the game. They won it with a set piece where we didn’t mark properly, if you don’t mark properly you will get punished.
“While it is really disappointing to lose a game that way, you have to be philosophical and look at where we are. We have made huge strides and we will get better.”
Coventry’s Frank Lampard:
“We worked hard yesterday on having the best possible approach to winning this game. We showed that we had really good focus and work rate. The lads worked hard and carried out the approach perfectly.
“I thought we played really well and our off the ball work today was outstanding. We created chances, but not great chances. It needed that bit of extra skill and we got that with the goal. I think we deserved it for the way we approached the game.
“It was amazing quality for the goal, he has got that in him. I thought we were the stronger team in the first half and we were moving the ball well, but we needed a bit more.
“I asked the attackers to trust themselves. When they have the pace and ability they have to trust themselves and run at defenders. It is good for us at this moment. It is a tough place to come, they were up for it and the fans were noisy.
“Stoke are a quality team with plenty of threat. We defended well, when there were moments, the back four were outstanding and dealt with the threats. It is unfair to signal individuals out, we worked hard as a team from front to back.”