ELLIS Simms scored the only goal as Coventry City battled to a hard-fought 1-0 win away at struggling Stoke City.
Simms struck six minutes after the interval at the bet365 Stadium to earn the Sky Blues another crucial win in their quest for a play-off place.
And the result means Coventry remain sixth in the Championship table, inside the play-off places on goal difference.
The Sky Blues somehow failed to take the lead in the first half when Haji Wright headed Fabio Tavares’ cross towards goal only for Potters goalkeeper Jack Bonham to make a one-handed save.
However, Simms beat Bonham to the follow-up and forced the Stoke stopper into a save from close range before Callum O’Hare saw his shot from eight-yards out deflected onto the post by Ben Wilmot.
The visitors took the lead on 51 minutes when Simms rolled the ball past Bonham from O’Hare’s through ball after Wright won back possession deep in the Stoke half.
Stoke almost found an equaliser as substitute Bae Jun-ho created some space for a shot in the box only for his effort to deflect wide of the post.
However, The Sky Blues should have sealed the points when Wright exchanged passes with Josh Eccles in the box only for the striker to blaze his shot over the bar from 12-yards out.
The home side spurned another chance to draw level as Million Manhoef jinked his way down the right before drilling a low effort into the side netting.
Coventry are next in action at home to Preston North End on Friday, February 23 with kick-off at 7.45pm at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
