Promotion chasing Stoke came from a goal behind to record victory at the Ricoh Arena.

A penalty from Ricardo Fuller and Liam Lawrence goal cancelled out a first half spot kick by Elliott Ward as City's relegation worries deepen.

The Sky Blues started brightly and were unfortunate not to take a third minute lead when Kevin Thornton hit the crossbar with a glancing header from a Jay Tabb cross before Michael Doyle fired narrowly wide of the upright from the edge of the area.

The Irishman was on the end of another excellent move in the 23rd minute, with City playing some flowing football to keep the Potters' rearguard occupied, but again his effort was just off target.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis was forced to make a change midway through the first half when Shola Ameobi came off injured and was replaced by Mamady Sidibe.

But the Sky Blues took a deserved lead just after the half hour mark when Dickinson upended Thornton in the box and referee Uriah Rennie pointed to the spot. Elliott Ward stepped up and calmly slotted his penalty into the bottom corner, sending keeper Carlo Nash the wrong way.

City came close to extending their lead five minutes before the interval when good work from Tabb teed up Thornton but his 15 yard effort was superbly tipped over by Nash.

Stoke had failed to test Kasper Schmeichel through the duration of the first half but Ricardo Fuller forced the City shot stopper into a full stretch save in the 50th minute with a curling shot from 18 yards, as the visitors looked to make more of an impact in the second 45 minutes.

And the Potters were level on 53 when Fuller equalised from the penalty spot. Stephen Hughes made a needless challenge on the Jamaican international and Uriah Rennie again had no doubt aas he awarded a second spot kick of the afternoon. Fuller stepped up and cooly finished to even things up.

The game was far more stretched in the opening stages of the second period and Thornton, lively as ever for the Sky Blues, looked to regain the lead for City but his sweetly struck shot drifted wide.

Pulis made his third and final substitution of the afternoon on 67, bringing on talented midfielder Liam Lawrence for Stephen Pearson.

And it was Lawrence who scored what would turn out to be the winner with 12 minutes remaining, shooting into an open net after Schmeichel had saved at the feet of Fuller.

Coleman made a double switch, introducing Robbie Simpson and Zavon Hines for Best and Mifsud but it was too late to influence the result.

Coventry: Schmeichel; Fox; Ward; Hughes; Doyle; Osbourne; Mifsud (Hines 85); Tabb; Best (Simpson 85); Dann; Thornton. Subs (not used): Marshall; Hall;  Gray

Goals: Ward (31, pen)
Booked: Dann (64); Doyle (68)

Stoke: Nash; Griffin (Shawcross 43); Cort; Cresswell; Fuller; Ameobi (Sidibe 25); Pugh; Delap; Dickinson; Riggott; Pearson (Lawrence 67) Subs (not used): Simonsen; Bothroyd

Goals: Fuller (53, pen); Lawrence (79)
Booked: Delap (71); Lawrence (80)

Referee: Uriah Rennie

Att: 20,249 (3,075)