Championship leaders Coventry City delivered a composed and clinical away performance to beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 at The Hawthorns, strengthening their promotion bid and deepening Albion’s relegation worries. Ephron Mason-Clark struck after just five minutes with a deft lob, before Jack Rudoni’s spectacular long-range drive midway through the first half effectively settled the contest.
Coventry, fresh from Monday’s 3-1 victory over second-placed Middlesbrough, made it back-to-back wins and secured their first success on the road in nine attempts. For West Brom, who have not earned three points in the league since 29 December and are winless in eight games under Eric Ramsay, this was another bleak afternoon. They failed to score for a fourth consecutive Championship match and remain just a point above the drop zone, with frustration in the stands matching the anxiety on the pitch.
Mason-Clark’s early lob stuns a hopeful Hawthorns crowd
Ramsay later insisted his side had started “positively and aggressively”, and there was indeed an early surge of energy from the hosts as they tried to lift a fanbase desperate for a turning point. But that optimism evaporated almost immediately when Coventry scored with their first attack. Frank Onyeka seized on loose possession in midfield and fed Milan van Ewijk, whose long, arcing ball over the top exposed Albion’s high defensive line. Mason-Clark stole in behind, chested the pass into his stride and lifted a clever lob over Max O’Leary. The goalkeeper managed to get a hand to the ball but could not prevent it dropping towards goal, and Alfie Gilchrist’s desperate attempt to hack clear only ended with the defender tumbling into the net alongside the ball.