'Stoke may already have half an eye on next season'

For a while it looked like Stoke City would do to Coventry what has so often been done to them this season - namely, steal a point from a dominant side left to regret missed chances.

In the end, they suffered a late defeat that felt eerily similar to what happened in the same fixture last season.

Coventry have a better first XI and better depth than Stoke, partly due to the injury crisis the Potters have long been dealing with and partly due to the quality of the Sky Blues' recruitment.

They are top of the league for a reason and much like Leeds last year, give Stoke a blueprint for future success.

Like Leeds, they combine technique and confidence in possession with a physicality and athleticism at the top end of the pitch that few teams at this level can live with.

Four of Stoke's missing players should be back in training this week and with 11 games to go the club may already have half an eye on next season.