‘That’s cheating!’ – Ex-ref boss reacts angrily to Ephron Mason-Clark penalty moment in Coventry vs Preston

Ephron Mason-Clark was accused of deceiving referee Lewis Smith to earn a penalty for Coventry City during their 3-0 Championship victory over Preston North End.

Former Professional Game Match Officials Limited chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett told Football Insider that the Sky Blues winger should have been cautioned for simulation rather than awarded the spot-kick during Wednesday night’s match at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Coventry strengthened their push for promotion to the Premier League with the comfortable win, thanks to goals from Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Matt Grimes.

The hosts had already established a two-goal lead by half-time after controlling the contest against the struggling Lilywhites. The major talking point arrived early in the second half when Smith pointed to the spot in the 49th minute following a challenge from Pol Valentín on Mason-Clark.

Replays suggested the Preston defender might have been unfortunate with the decision, but the call stood. Grimes converted from the penalty spot and Coventry went on to seal a convincing 3-0 win on home soil.

Hackett criticises Mason-Clark over ‘clear simulation’

The incident occurred when Mason-Clark collected the ball near the left edge of Preston’s penalty area and surged past right-back Valentín before going down near the byline inside the box.

Smith quickly awarded a penalty, though replays indicated that contact was minimal as the Preston defender protested his innocence.

Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett said he could understand why the referee awarded the penalty in real time from his angle. However, after reviewing the footage, he argued that the winger had gone down without contact and should instead have been booked for simulation.

Hackett explained that while the referee’s initial view made the decision understandable, clearer replay angles showed no real contact between the players. In his view, the incident should have resulted in a yellow card for simulation rather than a penalty being given.

Coventry closing in on promotion

The result moved Coventry nine points clear of third-placed Millwall, while second-placed Middlesbrough also dropped points after a surprise 1-0 home defeat to Charlton Athletic.

Back in January, Football Insider reported that Coventry were determined to keep Frank Lampard in charge amid interest from Crystal Palace. His continued presence has proved crucial as the Sky Blues’ title challenge has gathered momentum over the past two months.

Coventry have now recorded six consecutive wins, and projections from Opta’s supercomputer currently give them a 93.72 per cent chance of finishing top of the Championship, alongside a 99 per cent probability of securing promotion.