STOKE CITY returned to the top of the Championship thanks to a late winner from Liam Lawrence and the inability of their promotion rivals to pick up maximum points.

Tony Pulis’s side were the only team in the top five to win, and became the third different side to have led the division in the past week.

Stoke have not been immune to the inconsistent form that has been affecting the top sides in the Championship. They came into this game with just one win in eight matches, and it did not look like getting any better when Elliott Ward deservedly put Coventry in front from the penalty spot after Carl Dickinson’s foul on Kevin Thornton.

The home side had already come close when Kevin Thornton’s header rebounded off the crossbar in the third minute.

Ricardo Fuller pulled Stoke level, also from the spot, after his solo run was stopped illegally.

Stoke moved up a gear and put Coventry under intense pressure, which was rewarded when substitute Lawrence curled in the winner after 79 minutes.

The defeat left Coventry fighting to avoid the drop into League One.

Star man: Ricardo Fuller (Stoke City)

Player ratings. Coventry City: Schmeichel 6, Osbourne 6, Ward 6, Dann 6, Fox 6, Tabb 7, S Hughes 6, Doyle 7, Thornton 8, Mifsud 6 (Hines 84min), Best 6 (Simpson 85min)
Stoke City:Nash 7, Griffin 6 (Shawcross 40, 6), Riggott 6, Cort 6, Dickinson 6, Cresswell 6, Pugh 6, Delap 6, Pearson 6 (Lawrence 67), Fuller 8, Ameobi 6 (Sidibe 25, 6)

Scorers: Coventry: Ward 31 pen
Stoke: Fuller 55 pen, Lawrence 79

Referee: U Rennie

Attendance:20,249