Stoke City 1 Coventry City 0

BBC: Stoke 1-0 Coventry

Ade Akinbiyi grabbed the only goal as Stoke helped their play-off chances with a gutsy victory over Coventry.

Chris Greenacre's 22-minute cross found Gifton Noel-Williams, who headed across the area for unmarked Akinbiyi to nod home his first goal since September.

Coventry should have equalised from a corner at the end of the first half, Gary McSheffrey heading narrowly over.

McSheffrey then forced another top save from Simonsen after making space, but Stoke held on to the three points.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis:
"I feel sorry for Peter Reid and his players. They were the better side for a lot of the game - but that's the way football can go.

"I can't praise my own players enough. We had to patch things up because of injuries and illness - and they've given it absolutely everything.

"Clint Hill could have pulled out with flu, but he was magnificent."

Coventry boss Peter Reid:
"It's been the same story for the past few weeks, and I'm desperately disappointed for my players. They are gutted.

"My job is to make sure they remain positive, because we must turn the tide if we keep performing like that."

Stoke: Simonsen, Henry, Duberry, Hill, Clarke, Greenacre, Russell, Neal (Owen 67), Asaba (Dickinson 90), Noel-Williams, Akinbiyi, Owen (Eustace 77).

Subs Not Used: de Goey, Denny.

Booked: Eustace.

Goals: Akinbiyi 21.

Coventry: Steele, Carey, Shaw, Williams (Laville 60), Staunton, McSheffrey, Doyle, Hughes, Morrell, Johnson (John 71), Adebola.

Subs Not Used: Shearer, Barrett, Osbourne.

Booked: Doyle.

Att: 15,744

Ref: C Penton (Sussex).

--------------------------------------------------------

The Sentinel: Stoke City 1 Coventry 0

Ade Akinbiyi piled on the misery for Coventry with the only goal of the game as Stoke grabbed a hard-earned Coca-Cola Championship victory at the Britannia Stadium.

Akinbiyi struck in the 22nd minute of a scrappy affair as Stoke's bid to get back into the play-off picture gathered pace.

Coventry boss Peter Reid was left speechless after his side let a two-goal lead slip in the final few minutes against Derby last week - and he must have been equally unimpressed as an abject performance extended his team's winless streak to three games.

Stoke front man Gifton Noel-Williams, last week's goal hero in the win over Watford, saw an ambitious 25-yard effort sail over the bar in the opening moments before the game descended into a midfield battle.

Veteran Coventry defender Steve Staunton sent his side's first real chance high and wide before the hosts took the lead.

Chris Greenacre crossed from the right towards Noel-Williams, who headed the ball back across the six-yard area for the unmarked Akinbiyi to nod his first goal since September.

Coventry should have equalised in first-half injury time after Steve Simonsen tipped over Louis Carey's free-kick - but from the resultant corner Gary McSheffrey sent a close-range header narrowly over the top.

Coventry went straight on the attack after the break, and Simonsen was called into action to pull off a fine save from McSheffrey's fierce drive.

But they were dealt a further blow when defender Adie Williams left the field injured to be replaced by Florent Laville.

The lively Greenacre tried his luck from 25 yards but failed to trouble Luke Steele, before Stoke boss Tony Pulis sacrificed Lewis Neal for defender Gareth Owen.

McSheffrey then forced another excellent save from Simonsen after making space for himself in the penalty area, and Reid sent on striker Stern John.

Owen then pulled up injured after just 10 minutes on the field, but his misfortune allowed John Eustace an emotional return to action against his former club after eight months on the sidelines.

McSheffrey and Dele Adebola both squandered late chances as Stoke clung on to leave Coventry looking over nervously their shoulders at the wrong end of the table.

--------------------------------------------------------