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When it arrived it was worth the wait. Ephron Mason-Clark had provided much of the quality, in a game largely devoid of it. So it was fitting that it was he who, with full-time nearing, left the floor to meet Ellis Simms’ flick-on acrobatically and send 3,300 Coventry fans into a wild dance.
Mason-Clark was left floored by Junior Tchamadeu who, as he had all afternoon, tried to halt his direct opponent on the Coventry left but arrived a fraction too late. Those in the blue corner did his celebrating for him, a rendition of Dean Martin’s Sway containing their No 10’s name filling the Stoke air for several minutes.
Eventually a dazed looking Mason-Clark departed on a stretcher but earned the afternoon’s loudest cheer with a wave towards his loyal followers. Frank Lampard watched on calmly, arms folded, from the technical area. But even he had allowed himself a celebratory jig with his staff at the goal and why not: Coventry’s lead at the top of the tablewas extended to five points.
Spare a thought for Mark Robins. A year and a day since he was unceremoniously sacked by the visitors – proof that even miracle workers are afforded little grace – he must have thought his resurgent Stoke team had battled hard enough for a point.
He must not be too disheartened, though. Stoke, who slipped to third, showed enough to suggest that the optimism about their resurrection is not misplaced. Their ground is once more a boiling pot of intimidation after eight seasons spent barely at a simmer.
An already hyped crowd roared louder when the Coventry fans began chanting immediately after the Last Post had finished. They rapidly realised their (accidental) error but a minute’s silence became 55 seconds.
Further love was lost when Brandon Thomas-Asante went to ground in the area. Ben Wilmot had simply stroked his shoulder, and John Busby quite rightly deemed the contact was hardly contact at all. Boos. Boos. More boos.
Clear openings were scarce. For Coventry, Victor Torp saw Viktor Johansson deny him twice and Ashley Phillips block his first-time hit. The Dane might have expected to score at least once: his six previous Championship strikes this season have come from an xG of just 1.7.
Stoke’s best chance arrived when a teasing cross looked to be met by Million Manhoef. However, just before it reached him at the back post, Jay Dasilva got a vital touch. The ball bounced off of Manhoef’s face and to safety. Offside was suspected but the flag remained bodyside and, given the lack of video assistant referee, it would have stood.
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ShowStaying on video technology, Sorba Thomas found fortune in its absence. “My bad, my bad” he mouthed when swarmed by blue shirts after he kicked the twisting Tatsuhiro Sakamoto near the touchline. It was mistimed not malicious but he wore a guilty face.
Post-break, the tension grew as the light faded. Again, Coventry were on the front foot. Haji Wright requested a penalty but again Busby’s call was spot on – Wilmot had timed his challenge perfectly. Mason-Clark, a constant nuisance to Tchamadeu, danced inside and got a shot from distance away. Johansson spilled an awkwardly bouncing ball and took a knock from Thomas-Asante gathering the rebound.
Stoke continued defending resolutely, looking largely to break via Manhoef and Thomas. A clevely weighted Bae Jun-ho pass saw the former through, but again Dasilva, first by pushing the winger wide and then by throwing his body at the shot, thwarted him.
Finally, with four minutes of normal time remaining of a game played in acres of space and at a ferocious pace, Mason-Clark finally provided the missing ace.
The pure, unbridled optimism that lingered in the air en route to the ground had dissipated a touch for the 24,000 or so home fans as they departed. But for Coventry, whose fans serenaded Mason-Clark long after the final whistle, the feeling that their near 25-year wait for a top-flight return is edging closer grows ever stronger.
