Swede finish ensures Sky Blues are Viktors

SECOND-HALF goals from substitutes Max Biamou and Viktor Gyokeres helped Coventry City beat midtable Stoke in a five-goal thriller to secure a third consecutive Championship victory to virtually guarantee their second tier status.

Both goalkeepers kept the scoreline level with Angus Dunn getting his finger tips to a curling Gus Hamer freekick that was heading for the top corner before Ben Wilson clawed out a Connor Taylor header with a brilliant flying save.

But the Sky Blues got a deserved breakthrough just before the interval from a good move that resulted in Tyler Walker hitting a clinical finish to give City the lead.

Jacob Brown was gifted an equaliser just before the hour but Biamou restored Coventry’s lead two minutes after going on midway through the second half, only for Sam Clucas to restore parity again two minutes later in the 70th minute.

But Swedish striker Gyokeres grabbed the winner 12 minutes from normal time to hand Mark Robins’ men the win and put them on 51 points.

City started with plenty of energy and attacking intent but it developed into a fairly tight affair with the Potters making their aerial and physical presence felt at the back where they kept a tight rein on the front two of Matty Godden and Walker.

Stoke suffered an early injury blow when centre-half James Chester limped off on 16 minutes, replaced by Connor Taylor, before City enjoyed a set-piece opportunity that saw Hamer curl a brilliant effort that was heading for the far top corner of the net until Gunn got a touch at the last second.

Coventry lived dangerously at the other end when Stoke sent in a couple of threatening crosses that fizzed across the face of goal, one resulting in Liam Kelly injuring himself. Despite attempting to carry on, the skipper dropped to the ground and limped off, replaced by Matty James on the halfhour mark. Robins’ men finally got some reward for their endeavour when Godden slipped the ball to O’hare who wriggled into the box on the right and played a lovely square pass to Walker who hit a brilliant first time finish to beat the keeper and give the visitors the lead on 44 minutes. Michael O’neill made two changes at the break with the experienced John Obi Mikel and Steven Fletcher going on in midfield and attack as the home side made a determined start to the second half.

The Potters capitalised on their pressure just short of the hour, albeit taking full advantage of a mistake by Hamer. The midfielder attempted to clear by beating his man but took too heavy a touch and the ball fell straight to Brown who hit a thunderous firsttime shot from just inside the box that gave Wilson no chance.

Robins made a triple substitution on 66 minutes, swapping the front two for Biamou and Gyokeres, while Josh Eccles replaced Hamer in midfield.

And the change paid instant dividends when Biamou restored City’s lead with a far post tap-in.

However, Stoke were back level two minutes thanks to Sam Clucas.

But City took the lead for the third time on 78 minutes when Gyokeres hit a low and angled shot into the far bottom corner.

Wilson pulled off another brilliant reaction stop to deny a free Fletcher header at the far post as Stoke threatened to equaliser for a third time but Coventry hung on amid six long minutes of added time to secure the win and another huge three points.

There has been some really good quality play, the goals were outstanding and we won 3-2 at a really difficult place. Mark Robins