Coventry City 1 - 1 Walsall

[dutchman]

[dutchman]

Tom Bradshaw equaliser salvages a point for high flying Walsall after Chris Stokes' opener for the hosts



Coventry City had to settle for half shares in the first of this week’s two crucial promotion duels at the Ricoh Arena.

And, having temporarily climbed into second spot courtesy of a first-half goal from Chris Stokes, they remain in fourth postion for Saturday’s showdown against leaders Burton Albion.

It was a disappointing night for a hefty crowd who were treated to a first-half masterclass from Joe Cole but saw the Saddlers flourish as the ran out of steam after the interval.

Tony Mowbray made one change from the side that crushed Crewe last time out, swapping the energy of Jim O’Brien for the guile of James Maddison, while new arrival Peter Ramage was on the bench.

City made a bright start but the Saddlers rearguard, fresh from the weekend’s Cup heroics at Brentford, gave them precious little room to manoeuvre.

Joe Cole, admirably sharp in his first match since becoming a fully-fledged Coventry player, was a fraction short of getting a decisive touch as he combined cleverly with Adam Armstrong and O’Brien to sprint into the box but he was then well off target as he tried to exploit the slippery surface with an angled drive from 20 yards.

The former England ace played a key role in the 34th-minute breakthrough, however, as Jacob Murphy teased a free-kick from George Evans on the left touchline.

Cole whipped it in hard and Armstrong’s back-header found Stokes on the six-yard line to turn it past the diving Neil Etherington.

Walsall were desperately close to an instant response as Tom Bradshaw’s low shot skidded past Reice Charles-Cook and hit the foot of the post – Evans flagged offside as he went for the rebound.

The Saddlers were seeing far more of the ball as the game went into its final third and Mowbray freshened up his attack by sending on Maddison for Cole.

The Cov Kid’s first involvement was to win a free-kick 25 yards out but Etheridge dived to block his curling attempt and Aaron Phillips lifted the rebound over the bar from a tight angle.

The keeper – star of Saturday’s third-round triumph at Griffin Park – pulled off another crucial save when Armstrong bulldozed his way past three defender to get in a sidefoot shot.

But the Saddlers were still having far too much possession for home comfort and they snatched an equaliser ten minutes from time with their first shot on target – Rico Henry given all the time and space he needed on the left to curl over a knee-high cross that Bradshaw hooked past Charles-Cook.

Attendance: 15,671 (1,359 away).