Ellis Simms scores the winning goal against Sheffield Wednesday
Ellis Simms scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner to earn Coventry City a win in their battle of the Championship play-off hopefuls at Sheffield Wednesday.
Simms pounced on a late error from Wednesday goalkeeper James Beadle to score his second goal of the game in the 92nd minute.
The Owls had the better of the game but found themselves trailing after Simms headed in his first goal after 16 minutes.
Wednesday looked on course for a point, which would have been the least they deserved, after an own goal from Coventry captain Joel Latibeaudiere brought them level.
But Simms struck once more in injury time to earn Coventry a victory which saw them leapfrog their hosts.
Coventry, who were 17th in the table and two points outside the relegation zone when Frank Lampard took over in November, are now up to seventh, just a point outside the play-offs.
Wednesday, who are now four games without a home league win, missed a chance to move into the top six and dropped a place to ninth.
The Owls were boosted by captain Barry Bannan's return from injury and he helped set up the game's first chance in the sixth minute.
Bannan's ball over the top sent Svante Ingelsson away though he was unable to get his shot away under pressure.
Coventry were initially unable to clear the ball though and only last-ditch blocks from Milan van Ewijk and Liam Kitching prevented Ike Ugbo and Djeidi Gassama converting their follow-up attempts before Bannan fired over.
Wednesday continued to look the more dangerous side with Ingelsson next to go close after being played in by Bannan, who showed no ill-effects from his recent injury issue throughout.
Totally against the run of play, Coventry took the lead through Simms.
Jack Rudoni collected possession on the right with time and in space and whipped in a cross which Simms glanced into the bottom corner, the Sky Blues striker scoring for the third successive Championship away game for the first time in his career.
Wednesday were soon back on the front foot.
After more good work from the impressive Gassama, Marvin Johnson flashed a delivery across goal which none of his Wednesday team-mates could apply a finishing touch to.
Gassama worried Coventry twice more with crosses from the right before Ugbo tested Sky Blues keeper Oliver Dovin.
Simms thought he had punished Wednesday once more against the run of play but saw an effort ruled out for a foul on Beadle.
Ugbo then lost his footing at the crucial moment after initially controlling a right-wing cross and Wednesday could consider themselves unlucky to go in trailing at half-time.
Owls boss Danny Rohl introduced Josh Windass for Ingelsson and the first-half pattern of Wednesday dominance continued.
Initially Dovin was equal to everything Wednesday threw at him but he was finally beaten just after the hour when he pushed out Johnson's cross but only against the helpless Latibeaudiere as the ball ricocheted into his own net.
Wednesday looked more likely to score after that but Coventry's threat remained too.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto's header from Ephron Mason-Clark's deep cross forced Beadle into an acrobatic save in a reminder of the problems Coventry could still pose.
Wednesday appeared to be finishing the game stronger with Johnson blasting a sweetly-struck effort wide and the hosts having two late penalty shouts waved away in a frantic finish.
But they were left appealing in vain once again in stoppage time when Beadle failed to deal with a big up-and-under clearance, spilling the ball, and Simms was on hand to turn in the winning goal.
Simms, right, scored Coventry's first goal from Jack Rudoni's cross
'Sometimes football is horrible' - reaction
Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"It's hard to take. We dropped a minimum two points when I look to the whole game today.
"Even with a point you could be disappointed because we were on the front foot, created a lot of chances, entertained. But we know it's not just about entertainment, it's about winning games, getting results and this is really hard to take because my players invested so much today.
"All the data - we were on the front foot, ball possession, chances, set-pieces all the things. Sometimes football is horrible and today we got a small setback.
"Everybody on the pitch tried everything but at the end we can say we played good football but the points went to Coventry. This is hard."
Owls hit by Coventry last-gasp sucker-punch
Coventry City manager Frank Lampard told BBC Radio CWR:
"It was a tough match today. They give us some problems. We also gave them some problems but you have to defend at times and it's a part of football to be resilient, especially on the road and the character of the team to keep going.
"Ellis deserves all the plaudits. It's a great goal his first goal. The second goal people will reference a mistake from their goalkeeper, but if Ellis doesn't chase, put him under pressure, get the finish away afterwards then we don't score the winner.
"So I'm really pleased with the players for finding a way to win today in a really tough match.
"The progression of Ellis since I've been in, working on his game, his attitude, he is a really low maintenance lad but he is getting extra out of his game which is brilliant to see."
Lampard post Sheffield Wednesday win
