Walsall 2 - 1 Coventry City

Walsall ended Coventry's 100% start to the season, climbing to second in League One with a goal in each half.



Walsall led on 40 minutes when Milan Lalkovic threaded in Anthony Forde to fire home from inside the box.

The Saddlers went 2-0 up seven minutes after the break through Tom Bradshaw's sweet strike into the bottom corner.

Coventry quickly got one back with on-loan Norwich striker Jacob Murphy's spectacular 25-yard curler into the top corner, but it was not enough.

In fact, the home side came close to extending their lead 10 minutes from time when defender Andy Taylor's powerful effort from 20 yards shaved the post.

The Sky Blues had been handicapped by an early injury blow when 18-year-old striker James Maddison had to be substituted by Murphy after just four minutes, having suffered a leg injury stretching into a challenge.

Murphy had his sweeping shot from the left superbly saved one-handed by Saddlers keeper Neil Etheridge, but the home side were mainly on top.

Skipper Sam Ricketts was forced to clear off his own line, while Lalkovic's shot from an acute angle bounced off the woodwork.

Sky Blues manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire:

"Too many underperformed from the standard they have set themselves. We lost some poor goals and weren't as fluent as we have been. I'm disappointed for the fans who turned out in huge numbers yet again.

"I'm conscious of trying not to make excuses, but we had three or four players carrying injuries. The positive is that, over the next few games, we have breathers in between matches.

"We know there's going to be some adversity along the way. We can't just keep winning every game: a defeat was coming. The strength of any team is how we bounce back from a defeat."

The Sky Blues find themselves third after being beaten by Walsall, who go joint top of League One as a result



Coventry City FC dropped into third place in the League One table, a point behind their West Midlands hosts and new leaders Gillingham, when they were edged out in a barnstorming derby battle against Walsall despite a stunning first Sky Blues goal from Jacob Murphy.

City suffered an early blow when they lost James Maddison in the sixth minute. The teenage midfielder had to stretch for the ball after a clever link-up with Vincelot and Lameiras and although he was penalised for a foul on Chambers he came off worse in the collision and had to limp off after some on-field treatment.

The game got off to a very cagey start with both sides pressing well to stifle any attacking flow, but Etheridge had to pull off a smart low save from Murphy when the substitute linked well with O’Brien and the Sky Blues then had a lucky escape, Ricketts turning Lalkovic’s shot off the line after Murphy had ducked out of a challenge and allowed Demetriou to fire over a left-wing cross.

Burge had to get down to Lalkovic’s shot and Bradshaw cracked a first-timer wide before shot wide before O’Brien blasted over from Murphy’s lay-off to cheer up the travelling supporters.

But four minutes later it all went horribly wrong as Walsall attacked from deep and Lalkovic slipped the ball through the middle to leave Forde with an unchallenged run and the simplest of finishes past the exposed Burge.

Mowbray shook up his side by sending on Middlesbrough teenager Morris for O’Brien at half-time but it was the Saddlers who were quick out of the traps, Burge saving well when Mantom opened up a path for Bradshaw.

The home side duly doubled their lead in the 51st minute when Burge saves Lalkovic’s angled shot but Bradshaw hooked in the loose ball.– Saddlers having exploited the fact that Willis was struggling at right-back after a first-half knock.

He was promptly replaced by Phillips and the Sky Blues produced their best spell of the game – Armstrong smacking the angle of post and bar with superb free-kick from 25 yards before Murphy pulled one back with an early contender for goal-of-the-season. Playing a short left-wing corner to Lameiras and collected the return to smash in a ferocious angled shot that flew in via the far post.