Walsall 1 Coventry City 1 - Report and pictures
[gallery] Walsall and Coventry had to make do with a share of the spoils following a keenly contested Midlands derby which ended 1-1 at the Banks's Stadium, writes Joe Masi.
Erhun Oztumer's eighth goal of the campaign cancelled out Andy Rose's first half strike to see Jon Whitney's side extend their unbeaten run to six matches.
The Saddlers will feel they should have had a penalty when Oztumer was hacked down inside the area after the interval.
Substitute Liam Kinsella also had a golden chance to snatch all three points for his side in stoppage time.
But in truth a draw was a fair result, with Walsall struggling to find the tempo they showed at Swindon last weekend while the Sky Blues impressed with their direct, high-pressing game plan.
In naming his starting XI, boss Whitney kept faith with the team that secured a draw at Gillingham before then beating Swindon last Saturday.
It meant Andreas Makris continued as the lone forward in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with top scorer Simeon Jackson on the subs bench after recovering from a thigh injury.
Both teams began the game in identical form having each won in four of their last five outings.
And that confidence showed in a bright and fiery opening 20 minutes in which the visitors saw more of the ball but were unable to break through a resolute Saddlers defence.
Whitney's side were content to soak up pressure and play on the break with that tactic proving successful when they came a whisker away from breaking the deadlock midway through the half.
After winning possession, Jason McCarthy surged down the right-flank before delivering a teasing cross which Makris fired wide under pressure from a defender.
Walsall were looking defensively sound with Joe Edwards and Adam Chambers expertly protecting the back four.
But they were struggling to enjoy any sustained pressure in the final third and were made to pay when Rose opened the scoring.
In what was his first start in almost two months following a knee ligament injury, the midfielder produced a crisp half-volley finish to fire home Marvin Sordell's low cross.
That goal proved enough to ensure the Sky Blues went into the break ahead, with Walsall having failed to find an attacking rhythm to counteract the visitors pressing game plan.
The second half started in a similar fashion with Whitney's side unable to pass the ball with the tempo they would have likd.
But the game sparked into life in the 65th minute following a moment of controversy that should have seen the Saddlers pull level.
After Edwards had seen a strike beaten away by Lee Burge, the ball fell kindly for Oztumer who was seized to the floor by a Coventry defender in what looked a clear penalty.
But just as the home crowd began to appeal, Kieron Morris flashed a strike wide from 10-yards when he should have scored – with referee Dean Whitestone then waving away any shouts for a penalty.
It was looking like it was going to be a frustrating afternoon for Whitney's men but with 15 minutes remaining they pulled level.
Oztumer combined brilliantly with sub Jackson in the box before weaving himself some space and arrowing a low strike into the bottom corner for his eighth of the campaign.
Suddenly it was all Walsall with Morris and Josh Ginnelly forcing Burge into two good stops.
And inside six minutes of stoppage time, they almost snatched all three points when the ball fell kindly in the box for substitute Liam Kinsella but with the goal at his mercy the youngster drilled his strike wide.
Key moments
10 Kieron Morris controls a long James O'Connor ball on the chest before darting at goal and firing straight at Lee Burge from 20-yards.
15 Ruben Lameiras curls a wonderful from just outside the box which sails inches past the post.
23 Jason McCarthy does brilliantly to burst down the right and cross for Andreas Makris who, under pressure, fires wide.
36 GOAL COVENTRY. Andy Rose produces a smart finish to fire home Marvin Sordell's cross.
46 Daniel Agyei bursts past O'Connor and into the box but fires wide.
58 Etheridge makes a smart stop at his near post to keep out Agyei's powerful right-footed drive.
66 Joe Edwards sees a strike beaten away by Burge. Oztumer goes down under a strong challenge - no penalty – before Kieron Morris fires wide when he should score.
76 GOAL WALSALL Oztumer combines well in the area with Jackson before firing a crisp strike into the bottom corner.
79 Morris darts into the box and produces a fizzing drive which is beaten away by Burge.
90 The ball falls kindly for Liam Kinsella in the box but with the goal at his mercy the youngster fizzes a strike wide.
Man of the Match
Adam Chambers
Position in the table
League One: 12th
Teams
Walsall: Etheridge, McCarthy, O'Connor, Toner, Laird, Chambers, Edwards, Morris (Kinsella 87), Oztumer, Moussa (Ginnelly 76), Makris (Jackson 62).
Subs not used: MacGillivray, Preston, Dobson, Osbourne.
Coventry: Burge, Sterry, Willis, Turnbull, Page, Rose (Jones 70), Stevenson, Bigirimana, Lameiras (Reid 82), Sordell, Agyei (Wright 70).
Subs not used: Charles-Cook (GK), Ricketts, Maycock, Tudgay