The Sky Blues were pushed hard by the Swans, but Mason-Clark’s emphatic close-range finish late in the first half proved enough for an eighth successive home win for the home side.
Despite being second-best for large periods of the contest, the Swans had chances to continue their long-standing unbeaten run against Coventry with Zan Vipotnik, Liam Cullen, and Melker Widell all coming close.
Frank Lampard’s side, however, led by former Swans skipper Matt Grimes, would show their clinical edge as Mason-Clark’s strike would be decisive.
The Swans would show two changes to their starting lineup from the 2-1 win over Wrexham last time out with Cullen and Jisung Eom coming in for Swedish duo Widell and Zeidane Inoussa.
Forward Adam Idah, the matchwinner from the win against the Dragons, missed out through injury, with Bobby Wales among the Swansea substitutes.
The home side, sporting three ex-Swans in their starting lineup, would not be at their best, but should have been ahead midway through the first half, Swansea goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux saving brilliantly from Ellis Simms
The Chilean international clawing away the striker’s header from the top corner of the goal before showing great agility to block Mason-Clark’s follow-up, finding the net.
But just as the scores looked to be heading into the break goalless, the home side would strike. The goal coming from one of Milan van Ewijk’s many menacing long throws, Matty Woolfenden flicking on with Mason-Clark’s predatory effort hitting the back of the net on the turn.
Victor Torp and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto both tested Vigouroux as Coventry improved in the second period, though Swansea would be counting the cost of missed chances.
Top scorer Vipotnik’s shot ricocheted over the crossbar off Liam Kitching with the scores level, whilst Wales forward Cullen would spawn the best opportunity, volleying over from point-blank range in the final quarter.
Swede Widell should have made former Swans goalkeeper Carl Rushworth work harder after a sumptuous defence-splitting ball from fellow substitute Malick Yalcouye late on, but it would be a frustrating afternoon for the Swans, who, for the large part, would be ineffective in the final third and fail to turn possession into chances.
Coventry remain top of the Championship – eight points clear of second-placed Middlesbrough, whilst the Swans drop to 20th – four points ahead of the bottom three.
Swansea City X1:
Lawrence Vigouroux; Ethan Galbraith, Ben Cabango (captain), Cameron Burgess, Josh Tymon; Marko Stamenic, Goncalo Franco (Jay Fulton 75), Liam Cullen (Bobby Wales 80); Jisung Eom (Zeidane Inoussa 59), Ronald (Malick Yalcouye 75), Zan Vipotnik (Melker Widell 59).
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
