COVENTRY CITY 2-1 WALSALL
City: Murphy, Willis, Webster, Seaborne, Clarke, Petrasso, Thomas, Fleck, Marshall (Adams 63), Akpom (Delfounseo 61), Wilson (Barton 89). Subs: Burge, Christie, McGeouch, Daniels.
Walsall: O'Donnell,Butler, Featherstone, A. Chambers, Benning, J.Chambers, Sawyers, Brandy (Hewitt 88), Lalkovic (Baxendale 79), Westcarr ( Ngoo 79). Subs: Roberts. Purkiss, Hemmings, Baxendale, Hewitt. McQuilkin. Ngoo.
HT CCFC 1-0 WFC FT CCFC 2-1 WFC ATT 1637
Goals Callum Wilson 21, Malvind Benning 53, Nathan Delfounseo 83
Referee R.Clark
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Steven Pressley said that the cleansheet against Shrewsbury Town had given Coventry City something to build on and they turned that in to three points and snatched a late win in a re-arranged game against Walsall.
On a night which suited some and did not suit others who were trying to shift tickets for England's game at Wembley or those who went to see Roy Hodgson's side, Coventry City took on Walsall at Sixfields.
With Carl Baker and Franck Moussa both injured. Mark Marshall came in to get his first start since he joined last month.
It was clear that the England game, the boycott and everything else that was on tonight had a massive effect on the actual numbers in the ground and although the one man and his dog known as Tim Fisher, whose negotiating skills and then Ricoh Arena key throwing back skills which have contributed to the sorry tale that is Coventry City. was here, many others were not. Even the numbers on the hill were down with only three spotted included one with a very annoying whistle.
Steven Pressley looking rather smart in a black coat and a pair of trousers with brown shoes, gesticulated and pointed at his players as Seaborne lost the ball and Jordan Willis, who had another solid game along with Jordan Clarke, had to clear up.
Marshall won an eighth minute corner which Richard O'Donnell caught as the Walsall fans warmed up for their impending derby with Wolves with plenty of anti-Wanderers songs and chants.
Joe Murphy pulled off a brilliant one handed save in the 19th minute from a Lalkovic shot after Thomas has slipped following a Marshall free kick.
City countered in the 21st minute and Callum Wilson, still wearing his head bandage from Sunday to protect his stitches, raced away, beating The Saddlers' offside trap and rifled the ball into the net past O'Donnoll.
Walsall, whose 496 fans were barracking the referee for allowing the goal, responded with Lalkovic at the far post blasting into the stand where there was 64 City fans behind the goal.
A 37th minute corner for the Sky Blues came to nothing but the City fans reserved their fury for the referee who had ignored Akpom being kicked in the face and Wilson being fouled.
For City, this was a lot better first half than against Shrewsbury as it was the Sky Blues who were dictating the play, bossing the midfield and forcing the Saddlers to rely on their keeper to hoof balls upfield.
Just before the break, Petrasso whipped in a cracking cross which Butler sliced and O'Donnoll had to push over his own bar for a corner that was dealt with.
However, eight minutes in the second half and Walsall were level when Joe Murphy made two great saves from Benning and Brandy but could not stop the loose ball falling into the path of Malvind Benning who tapped into the net in front of his own supporters.
With just under half an hour remaining, Pressley sent on Nathan Delfounseo for Akpom who had not shown the pace he had on Sunday and two minutes later, Blair Adams came on for Marshall who had not shown anything in the second half.
Seaborne headed a free kick wide before City put in a spell of pressure in the 76th minute which saw a great run from Petrasso, Blair Adams hitting the post from 20 yards and two corners.
Walsall having brought on two pairs of fresh legs, headed a corner over but with seven minutes to go, a neat move saw Petrasso get the ball and cross for Nathan Delfounseo, to open his Sky Blues goalsaccount when he powered homea shot into the net from ten yards off the underside of the bar.
Wilson left to a standing ovation from the City fans who cheered just before the end but the biggest cheer of the night was for Man Of The Match Joe Murphy who made two breath-taking saves and helped to clear the loose ball off the line as the Sky Blues took a welcome victory and completed their second double of the season against a team in red.