Walsall FC 0 Coventry 1 - match report

The winger stabbed home from close range nine minutes into the second half after Richard O'Donnell had saved Leon Clarke's header.

In a game of few chances, the closest the Saddlers came to a goal was a Craig Westcarr free-kick which visiting keeper Joe Murphy tipped round the post.

Callum Wilson almost added a second for Coventry late on but was denied by O'Donnell.

Just one goal was needed to separate the sides but despite the lack of goalmouth action, this was still an entertaining game.

Dean Smith opted to stick with the team which won 3-1 at Swindon on Tuesday, meaning there was not place in the starting 11 for Romaine Sawyers.

Featherstone had a shot blocked from distance blocked in the opening minute but the first real opening fell to the visitors. Callum Wilson beat Paul Downing to a Blair Adams cross and advanced into the box but his pull-back, intended for striker partner Clarke, was hacked away by the covering Andy Butler.

Moussa was then within inches of giving Coventry the lead when he outmuscled James Chambers on the edge of the box and curled a shot just wide of O'Donnell's far post.

The Saddlers were struggling to re-find the rhythm from Tuesday's win and were finding life tough against a Coventry side closing them down at every opportunity. Sam Mantom pulled a shot wide in a rare opening, after Hemmings diverted a James Chambers cross into the midfielder's path.

Westcarr then went closer than anybody to breaking the deadlock with a free-kick that looked destined for the bottom corner before Murphy tipped it round the post.

Mantom and Andy Taylor then both saw shots deflected wide, the latter coming off Westcarr and going a foot past the post much to the relief of Murphy in the visiting goal as the Saddlers finished the half on top.

But nine minutes into the second period they were behind. Clarke climbed highest to meet a Baker corner and though O'Donnell brilliantly kept out his header, Moussa reacted quickest to stab home the loose ball.

Baxendale looked to have been presented with the perfect opportunity to level soon after when a slip in the visiting defence sent him clear but he got his feet tangled under pressure from Jordan Clarke.

Westcarr sent a header straight at Murphy from a James Chambers cross and the keeper also beat the striker to an Adam Chambers through ball.

Moussa was still causing plenty of problems on the left-flank and James Chambers went into the referee's book for a wild challenge which missed both the ball and the winger.

Substitute Troy Hewitt headed wide for the hosts from a Chambers cross as the game entered the final 10 minutes. Sawyers, on for Hemmings, then drove an effort straight at Murphy from 25 yards out after exchanging passes with Adam Chambers.

Wilson almost sealed if for the visitors but O'Donnell saved the low shot with his legs after the striker had broken into the box.

Walsall boss Dean Smith said: "We were the better team for the majority. They started very well and had a strong opening 20 minutes but after that period we settled and began to control the game.

"It was a poor goal for us to concede. I feel we should have had a penalty too but it was a good performance from us just a disappointing scoreline.

"We had good possession on the ball but credit to Coventry for working hard for each other to close down our spaces. We had fewer chances and less opportunities.

"They are the best team we have played against. They are good off the ball and majority of these players were playing championship football just a few years ago so credit to Steven Pressley for the job he is doing.

"We tried to make it difficult for them. Nicky Featherstone had a strong performance in midfield today but overall we are disappointed to lose but happy with our performance."