Walsall 0 - 2 Coventry - City leave Walsall in their wake

Posted Sunday, January 04, 2015 by PA

Goals from skipper Jim O'Brien and Marcus Tudgay saw Coventry win 2-0 at Walsall, who slipped to a second successive home defeat.

The Saddlers tried hard to recover from a bad start, but the Sky Blues, who also missed a penalty, survived heavy second-half pressure before adding a second and clinching goal three minutes from the end of normal time.

Coventry had made a tremendous start in which they missed a penalty and scored a brilliant goal in the opening six minutes.

Romaine Sawyers brought down Jim O'Brien in the fourth minute only for home goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell to block a fierce spot kick from Tudgay.

But two minutes later skipper O'Brien put the Sky Blues ahead with a stunning angled drive from 25 yards which flew into the top corner.

Walsall tried to get back in the game, but Coventry went close to increasing their lead when Tudgay headed against the crossbar and O'Donnell made fine saves from John Fleck and Matthew Pennington.

Anthony Forde and Michael Cain hit the post for the Saddlers in a hectic second half before Tudgay ended the contest by heading a second goal for the Sky Blues from O'Brien's corner in the 87th minute.