EFL Trophy: Coventry 0 Walsall 0 (5-4 on pens) - Report and pictures

The teams met in what was their opening match in Group D with each side gaining a point towards qualification for the second round..

But it was the Sky Blues who picked up an extra bonus point after Liam Kinsella missed his spot-kick in a shoot-out following the 90 minutes.

Rory Gaffney and Elijah Adebayo also missed in the opening five penalties - with Cameron Norman, James Hardy, Gary Liddle and Alfie Bates all scoring.

For Coventry, Ama Bakayoko and Kyle McFadzean missed while Max Biamou, Josh Eccles, William Bapaga and Sam McCallum all scored - with Tannai Watson grabbing the winner.

Clarke used to the EFL Trophy clash to experiment with his team selection with the boss making seven changes from Saturday’s defeat to Grimsby.

Lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, goalkeeper Jack Rose and right-back Shay Facey made their first starts for the club since joining in the summer.

The boss also sprung a surprise by playing Liam Kinsella on the left-wing with Rory Holden on the right, Josh Gordon in the number 10 role and Elijah Adebayo up front.

Coventry lined up in a 4-3-3 system with ex-Saddler Ama Bakayoko deployed as the central striker with Charlie Wakefield and Garvane Kastanner either side.

In what proved a keenly contested opening 20 minutes, it was Bakayoko and Adebayo who led the charge for their respective sides.

The Sky Blues almost opened the scoring when Bakayoko out-paced Gary Liddle and then out-muscled the defender to send in a low cross from the byline.

That delivery was met by the galloping Callum O’Hare whose strike took a deflection before sailing past the post.

Walsall responded through the equally lively Adebayo who saw a dipping and swerving volley from 20-yards well tipped over by Ben Wilson.

The former Fulham striker then tested the goalkeeper once again with a delicious effort from distance that was well parried away by the shot-stopper.

But from that point, the half petered out with both teams working hard without creating a chance of note.

The game continued to be cagey in the early stages after the interval. But the Saddlers then had a glorious chance to open the scoring in the 55th minute.

Danny Guthrie sent in a deep corner which Adebayo nodded back into the danger area.

And that was met by Gordon who headed over when he really should have scored.

Clarke made his first change on the hour mark with James Hardy replacing the impressive Guthrie - who is still working his way back to full fitness following a hamstring strain.

Rory Gaffney was then introduced for his Saddlers debut with Gordon making way.

The changes lifted Walsall who suddenly began to look a lot more dangerous in and around the Coventry box.

And they should have opened the scoring when a corner from substitute Cameron Norman was only half-cleared.

The ball fell for Alfie Bates who was well placed just outside the box.

But he then lashed a strike high and wide - with that chance proving to be the last meaningful action of the 90 minutes.

Teams

Coventry: Wilson, Watson, McFadzean, O'Hare (Bapaga 75), McCallum, Kastaneer (Burroughs 59), Williams, Eccles, Bartlett, Wakefield (Biamou 78), Bakayoko.

Subs not used: Marosi, Hyam, Ngandu, Rowe.

Walsall: Rose, Pring, Liddle, Jules, Facey, Kinsella, Bates, Guthrie (Hardy 61), Gordon (Gaffney 65), Adebayo, Holden (Norman 67).

Subs not used: Roberts, Cockerill-Mollett, Sinclair, Lavery.