Coventry City continued their winning streak in dramatic fashion following a 94th-minute winner from Jack Rudoni to go eight points clear at the top of the Championship.
An early header from Haji Wright gave the Sky Blues an early lead in a dominant first-half display but was cancelled out by a Ben Gibson header in the fourth minute of added time in the opening 45.
It looked like the points were going to be shared until Rudoni scored from range via a deflection to give the Sky Blues their 4th win in 12 days.
Frank Onyeka had the first real chance of the game eight minutes in after his shot from just outside the area was well-saved by Tommy Simkin in the Potters’ net.
The pressure from Lampard’s side continued and they found the opening after 11 minutes after a well-weighted cross from Jay Dasilva was met by Wright who headed home his 15th goal of the season.
Stoke struggled to cope with the attacking force of Coventry throughout the first half and Ephron Mason-Clark had a shot blocked from close range from a corner and Onyeka fired the rebound over the bar in the 35th minute.
Mark Robins’ side struggled to create many chances throughout the first half but managed to level the scoring in the final kick of the first half after a Sorba Thomas header was fired in by Gibson at the front post.
It was the Potters who came out looking more lively in the second half but never really looked like scoring throughout the second 45.
Substitute Ellis Simms had a great opportunity to regain the lead for the Sky Blues just three minutes after coming on but blazed his effort over the bar in the 82nd minute.
Stoke tried to run the clock down as much as they could throughout the final ten minutes with substitutes and goalkeeper timewasting which led to Simkin being booked in stoppage time.
On an afternoon where it looked like the points were going to be shared between the two sides, it would need a moment of magic from someone to take all three points.
The Sky Blues found a way through in the 94th minute after high press from Simms forced the goalkeeper into an error which fell to Rudoni who fired it home from 25 yards out to extend their lead to eight points at the top of the Championship with 11 games to go.
A confident but resilient performance from Frank Lampard’s Coventry side ensured they completed the league double over Stoke, led by former Sky Blues manager Mark Robins, for the first time since the 1984/85 season.
Coventry City will have to wait until Tuesday night to find out whether they will be playing Bristol City away on Saturday or if their next game will be at home to Preston next Wednesday – depending on the Robins FA Cup progress.
Stoke City return to action again next Saturday as they look to return to winning ways against Swansea City in the Championship.
