Coventry 5 Walsall 1 - match report

Blair Adams' early own goal was wiped out by David McGoldrick's double, Carl Baker's brace and Cyrus Christie's strike as the 10-man Saddlers collapsed at the Ricoh Arena.

Andy Butler was sent off late on after picking up his second yellow card to pile the misery on the poor Saddlers.

They remain 19^th in League One but are now only two points clear of the drop zone.

After a two-week break Craig Westcarr replaced Ashley Hemmings in Walsall's first ever trip to the Ricoh.

And in a sign of things to come Aaron McCarey thwarted Franck Moussa on seven minutes and McGoldrick fired wide on 14 minutes after bamboozling Dean Holden.

But the Saddlers took a shock lead when Jamie Paterson's cross was sliced past Joe Murphy by an under pressure Adams.

Walsall had settled the better, despite allowing the Sky Blues two sights at goal, with Nicky Featherstone and Sam Mantom trying to press forward.

But the hosts were riled by the early goal and Richard Taundry and Butler were forced into last ditch clearances.

Their resistance didn't last long though as Coventry levelled on 29 minutes when Baker tricked his way into the area and fired low past McCarey at the near post.

The Sky Blues were on top and McGoldrick fired them ahead on 39 minutes when Paterson lost possession inside the Coventry half, Baker broke and fed the Nottingham Forest loanee who chipped over McCarey.

And it got worse for the Saddlers just two minutes later when McGoldrick bagged his second as he drilled in at the far post – despite looking to handle the ball before scoring.

It killed Walsall's hopes and the escaped in injury time when Butler lost the ball to Baker but McCarey saved and Gary McSheffrey fired the rebound over.

Will Grigg lobbed over after the break as the Saddlers sought inspiration but McGoldrick was denied by the post before Coventry went further ahead just after the hour.

Christie was given too much space on the right to cut in and his low deflected effort found the corner.

Walsall created nothing in response until Sam Mantom's shot was turned behind by Murphy and Dean Holden's goal was ruled out for offside after Featherstone's free kick was saved.

Butler was then dismissed for a second yellow card – after picking up his first in a flare-up with McGoldrick – and Baker finished the Saddlers off when he curled in from 25-yards with eight minutes left.