Leaders Coventry extended their lead at the top of the Sky Bet Championship to eight points with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Swansea.
Efron Mason-Clarke’s powerful goal just before half-time was enough to give the Sky Blues their ninth home championship win of the season.
But the Sky Blues, who usually score free points, are built to try hard to pick up points and were probably lucky to find themselves in front at half-time.
The resolute visitors did a great job of silencing the hosts, but that was canceled out by Mason Clarke’s opening goal a minute before the break.
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Efron Mason-Clarke opened the scoring for Coventry against Swansea.
It failed to revitalize Coventry, and the hosts slumped again after coming under heavy pressure early in the second half.
It was the visitors who enjoyed the most chances in the second half and could well have snatched a point with a better finish after both Liam Cullen and Melker Weidel squandered golden chances to equalize.
This leaves City, unbeaten at home this season, with an overwhelming 13 points to spare as they aim to bring Premier League football to Coventry for the first time in 25 seasons.
The visitors started on the front foot and Uhm Ji-sung’s shot was comfortably saved by Carl Rushworth.
Liam Kitching produced an excellent goal-saving block to deny Zan Vipotnik a goal after nine minutes.
A minute later, Marko Stamenic scored a late foul on Jacques Rudoni and scored the goal.
Rushworth blocked a dangerous Eom cross within minutes as the visiting side continued to look comfortable.
In the 38th minute, Ellis Sims’ header from Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s cross was brilliantly saved by Lawrence Vigouroux.
Mason Clarke’s pursuit was then thwarted and Matt Grimes went wide.
Ronaldo failed to make the most of the visitors’ chances, firing high despite having better options.
However, one minute before half-time, Mason-Clarke put the Sky Blues ahead with a strong finish after Milan van Eijwijk’s long throw was deflected.
Vigouroux made a good save off a well-hit shot from Victor Torp in the opening minutes of the second half.
Coventry continued to put pressure on the Swans after winning a series of quick corners.
The lively Mason Clark had a shot blocked in the same period, but shortly afterwards Vigroux made a save from Sakamoto’s follow.
Widell saw his shot blocked as the Swans made a rare break following Zeidan Inoussa’s cross.
Cullen wasted a golden chance for the visitors in the 71st minute when he was unable to find the target despite having enough space.
Widell was only able to spot the keeper when Malick Yarkoué’s superb pass cut open the Coventry defence.
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Frank Lampard of Coventry:
“Throughout the season, there will be games where everything goes well and there will be games where you have a chance but things fall off or things don’t go well.
“We had chances to score the second goal, but we just couldn’t convert. Today we weren’t as good off the ball as we usually are.
“Today we were more passive and gave them the feeling that they could play. They are a good team and can play through us and find passes. We had to deal with that at halftime and we did it in the second half.”
“Today we had to find other parts of our game and keep a clean sheet. They gave us a tough game and I’m really happy with the result.”
Swansea’s Vitor Matos:
“It was a positive performance. There are always things that can be improved, but one area was how clinical the finishing was.”
“Coventry are a good team and top of the league. When you play a team like that you know you have to take your chances and it was the same against Stoke.”
“When we have the upper hand and we have a chance, we have to take advantage of it. Their goal came from a moment when we weren’t in the lead and that’s something we have to learn from.”
