Sky Blues fail to take all three points in bore draw at the Ricoh Arena
The M6 neighbours slugged out a 0-0 draw in a game of the proverbial two halves – Walsall the brighter side for the first 45 minutes (even though City carved out the best chance) while the Sky Blues were dominant after the break.
Steven Pressley made just once enforced tweak, new loan recruit replacing the injured Aaron Phillips at right back against an unchanged Saddlers.
Despite Dean Smith’s public concerns about the pitch, Walsall adapted better pushed the ball around nicely in the opening stages, using the comparatively unscarred strips down the flanks.
Sawyers, Cain and Baxendale all tried their luck from distance, Baxendale going closest although he was then distinctly fortunate when, as the Saddlers defended a free-kick, he wrapped both arms round Madine in the box. The referee decided that was legitimate, although it’s doubtful whether he would have reached that conclusion anywhere else on the pitch.
The home fans were treated to some excitement around the half-hour as dangerous crosses from Johnson and Pennington stretched the Saddlers defence before Fleck’s angled drive was deflected wide with O’Donnell struggling to readjust his feet,
And although Walsall again threatened when Cain’s long-range effort whistled narrowly wide, it was the Sky Blues who nearly broke through just before the interval when they contrived the move of the match.
O’Brien’s clever pass found Nouble in space on the right, the striker passed back to Pennington and his first-time cross found O’Brien in space for a stooping header that was turned wide by a fully-stretched O’Donnell.
Walsall again started the second half well, Allsop saving brilliantly when Sawyers was left free for a side-footed effort from eight yards, but the Sky Blues went even closer in the 55th minute as Madine swivelled 35 yards out to unleash a brilliant volley but O’Donnell scrambled back to block.
O’Donnell had to save sharply again when Fleck latched on to a half-cleared corner but from corner, Madine’s header was straight at keeper.
Madine’s near-post shot was deflected wide after a flowing move involving Swanson and O’Brien but neither side could manage the breakthrough in the closing stages.
"M6 neighbours"?
