Walsall 2-1 Coventry City
City: Burge, Willis, Davies, Sterling, Brown, Kelly, Thomas, Shipley, Bayliss (Ogogo 80) , Bakayoko, Chaplin (Clarke-Harris 62), Subs: Addai, Grimmer, Doyle, Hiwula,Hyam.
Walsall:Roberts, Leahy, Guthrie, Devlin, Kinsella, Osbourne, Ferrier, Fitzwater,(Ismail 69), Gordon (Ginnelly 69), Martin, Cook. Subs: Dunn, Morris, Johnson, Wilson, Ronan.
Att 5,926
Goals: Luke Thomas 18, Luke Leahy 91 & 93 pen
Coventry City continue to lose, throwing away a lead and losing 2-1 late at Walsall
With Coventry City issuing a this is our stance but you must compromise and if the club folds then it's not our fault statement , the City support who have been dragged into a situation which should have been sorted back in 2007, were not in the best of moods as over 2,200 headed up the M6 or on the train to the Banks's Stadium for City's second game at Walsall in a month.
Mark Robins changed the team from the one which had lost at Fleetwood with Michael Doyle amongst those dropped and included Amadou Bakayoko against his former club.
City with Luke Thomas, playing and making the Yorkshire Post comments that he had been recalled by Derby County, look the clickbait rubbish of some fresh out of uni wannabee hack, started well with Bakayoko winning a corner in the opening minute.
They worked hard and took the lead in the 18th minute when the ball came over and Luke Thomas volleyed home, sparking wild scenes in the away ends.
The rain came down but still City kept going putting pressure on the Saddlers who drew in the FA Cup against Sunderland last Saturday.
Dujon Sterling back from his knee injury, held his position well whilst Tom Bayliss and Liam Kelly plus Jordan Shipley alll fought the midfield battle well.
At times it was feisty with Bayliss getting booked, the referee getting abused by the City support and a possible penalty for the Saddlers when Cook went to ground.
Just before the break, Liam Kelly was stamped on, there was a melee and Luke Thomas got cautioned.
The second half saw more questioning of the referee buy the City support which backed the team with a number of songs including Twist N Shout and You Are My City which now has extra meaning.
Walsall attacking the stand you can see from the M6, had a couple of chances but City with Amadou Bakayoko working hard, were able to deal with anything the Saddlers had to offer.
Burge did get booked for coming out of his area and fouling in the 62nd minute seconds before Jonson Clarke-Harris came on for Conor Chaplin who had been struggling to hold the ball up but did press in order for City to play higher up the pitch, although not with the energy of the first half.
Jordan Shipley cleared off the line and Bakayoko fired wide twice before finding Shipley for a 74th minute shot which Roberts saved with his legs.
A great run by Clarke-Harris found Bakayoko who found Thomas but again Roberts, Walsall's man of the match for me, blocked.
Bayliss after a job well done was replaced by Abu Ogogo for the last ten minutes.
More corners for the home side followed, the second was cleared, Clarke-Harris broke but drove wide.
City Til I Die was the chant as the game headed towards the end of the second half.
Burge made a great save as four minutes were added on. However, Walsall were not finished and Roberts sent up the long ball to Luke Leahy who beat Burge in the air to equalise.
Walsall fans went on the pitch in celebration and when the incursions were cleared,. The Saddlers attacked and were awarded a penalty when Ogogo had his arms all over an opponent. Luke Leahy took it and slipped it past Burge, sparking more incursions before the game finished with Morgan Ferrier inciting the City support.