REPORT: COVENTRY CITY 0 WALSALL 0 REPORT: COVENTRY CITY 0 WALSALL 0

REPORT: COVENTRY CITY 0 WALSALL 0

Earlier today, Walsall Football Club travelled to the Ricoh Arena to take on Coventry City in the latest Sky Bet League One fixture of the season.
Earlier today, Walsall Football Club travelled to the Ricoh Arena to take on Coventry City in the latest Sky Bet League One fixture of the season.

Walsall began the game in dominant fashion, getting the ball down and passing it around on a very questionable surface.

Early into the half Saddlers' right-back Ben Purkiss sent in a cross, which Ashley Grimes was unable to connect with, a City defender getting ahead of the Swinton-born attacker.

Soon after, Walsall's Romaine Sawyers lifted a shot over the bar, as the St Kitts & Nevis midfielder looked to add to his goal tally.

Later midfielder Reda Johnson sent a header wide, as City created their first chance of the match.

Leicester City's Michael Cain continued the strong start to his Saddlers career, linking up well with Jordan Cook, only to see his effort flash wide.

James Baxendale also sent a shot wide as the City defence continued to sit back and limit the Saddlers to efforts from distance.

Later, Walsall were awarded a free kick out wide, Andy Taylor's curling effort was in vain as the referee awarded a free kick to the home side, Paul Downing fouling his man in the City area.

Ashley Grimes and Jordan Cook both sent efforts wide as Walsall remained unable to break into the City box.

After around twenty-five minutes City fans wanted a penalty, as Gary Madine looked to be wrestled to the ground by Andy Taylor, referee Richard Clark looked unimpressed and ignored the protests.

Walsall went down the other end, as James Baxendale chipped the ball over the bar, with Jordan Cook screaming for a pass.

City then got themselves in order and began to create a few chances. On-loan Everton midfielder Pennington sending in a dangerous cross, which was cleared for a corner, City pushing high up the field.

Michael Cain continued to play well, both with his passing, and shooting game, 'keeper Allsop scrambling as a shot went wide.

As the game neared half-time, Walsall continued to control the ball, but were guilty of wastefulness in the final third, allowing the 'keeper ample time to grasp any loose attacking balls.

City finally tested Richard O'Donnell, just as the half reached added-on-time, the former Sheffield Wednesday man saving well from a Jim O'Brien header, the resulting corner came to nothing, as the referee called a halt to proceedings.

 HALF TIME  COVENTRY CITY 0 WALSALL 0 

The second half started in similar fashion to the first, with Walsall passing the ball around the park. Ben Purkiss and James Baxendale linked up well throughout the game, and fashioned some inviting crosses.

After fifty minutes Allsop saved well from a close range Jordan Cook effort, the ball landing at Jordan's feet following a deflected Romaine Sawyers effort. Later, Jordan Cook also went wide following some good play from Cain.

Back up at the other end, Richard O'Donnell saved well from a dipping Madine effort, Andy Taylor cleared the resulting corner, with Madine's ball back in going wide for the home side.

As we reached the hour mark Walsall made their first change, Ashley Grimes was replaced by Anthony Forde, Dean Smith looking for more pace out wide.

City swiftly followed this up with a change of their own, with Danny Swanson replacing Ryan Haynes.

The changes resulted in a much more direct formation for City, making them far more of a threat on the attack, John Fleck with a deflected effort, O'Donnell with a fine save for the Saddlers.

Just before the seventy minute mark City maintained the pressure and won a series of corners, with Johnson and Madine both going close.

On seventy-six minutes James Baxendale was replaced by Mathieu Manset, the striker looking to grab a goal against one of his former sides.

Soon after Madine had a shot blocked following a wonderful cutting O'Brien pass. Johnson met the corner but was matched by a wonderful save from the ever-solid O'Donnell.

Frank Nouble was replaced by Simeon Jackson as manager Steven Pressley looked to grab a late goal, however this was not to be, the game ending in a draw, a late Saddlers corner not enough to create a last minute goal.

 RESULT   COVENTRY CITY     0      WALSALL     0   
VENUE: The Ricoh Arena, Coventry.
ATTENDANCE: 8,076.
REFEREE: Mr. Richard Clark, Northumberland.

 COVENTRY CITY  Allsop; Johnson, Webster, Martin, Pennington, Haynes (Swanson 64'), Fleck, Finch    , O'Brien ©, Madine, Nouble (Jackson 84')

 SUBS NOT USED  Burge; Di. Kelly-Evans, Thomas, Barton, Maddison

 WALSALL  O'Donnell; Purkiss, J.Chambers, Downing, Taylor; A.Chambers ©, Cain; Baxendale (Manset 76'), Sawyers, Grimes (Forde 62'); Cook

 SUBS NOT USED  MacGillivray; O'Connor; Flanagan, Morris, Clifford
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