Ephron Mason-Clark scored a late goal to earn Coventry a big win at Stoke, strengthening their position at the top of the Championship.

Frank Lampard's team looked like they would be frustrated by former boss Mark Robins' Stoke side, who boast one of the second tier's best defences.

But Mason-Clark struck his third goal of the season four minutes from time to stretch Coventry's lead at the top of the table to five points.

Stoke slipped to third place in the race for promotion after seeing their three-match winning run ended by the Sky Blues at the bet365 Stadium.

Lampard will be relieved at the crucial victory and the way his side kept going to finally find a way through Stoke's well-drilled defence.

Viktor Johansson was in the mood to frustrate Coventry and kept out a powerful free-kick from Victor Torp before he touched a curling effort from the same player over at full stretch.

Stoke had their moments and Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth denied their captain Ben Wilmot at the back post before Million Manhoef saw a header drift just wide.

The Potters continued to press and Bae Jun-ho had a shot blocked before Manhoef saw another effort deflected wide.

Coventry had scored at least twice in each of their last eight games and Lampard's goal machine continued to try to break down Stoke's resolute defence.

Johansson thwarted them again, getting down well at his near post to save Mason-Clark's 20-yard effort, but Coventry got their reward when Ellis Simms flicked a long throw on for Mason-Clark to finish into the top corner for their 40th Championship goal this season.

Mason-Clark, who suffered an injury in the act of scoring, was stretchered off and Coventry had to survive 16 minutes of stoppage time to claim the win.

Stoke manager Mark Robins told BBC Radio Stoke:

"I think the manner of the defeat is even more difficult to take. I'm disappointed with the result, I'm not disappointed with the effort we showed – the lads have given everything and we've been really competitive.

"I can't remember any clear-cut chances that they had – there was some good play but they play for corners, long throws and put you under pressure that way. We didn't mark properly from the long throw and we got punished for it, that's the disappointment for us.

"In terms of overall play, it was pretty nip and tuck but we had the best chance of the game with Mill (Manhoef) right in front of the goal from a Sorba Thomas cross and we didn't take it.

"That was huge – had we taken that, it could have been slightly different. I thought one or two were off it today, we didn't get enough of a spark when we needed that."

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire:

"It's a great feeling to win like that because it's a tough fixture.

"We dealt with the game brilliantly from start to finish. The work of the players and togetherness and the tactical approach was amazing, particularly off the ball. We thoroughly deserved it against a very good team.

"They try to play. We pressed and we stopped them getting any form of control. The threat of their wingers is always there but our full-backs were amazing but it's hard to single our players.

"We can't get overexcited we are winning a lot of games but we can't think we have cracked it."

(On Ephron Mason-Clark) "He has a big bang on his face. It was an outstanding goal for the skill level of it. Not every player can do that. He was really good today. He came against a really good opponent but Ephron kept going at him."