Callum Wilson gives Sky Blues a half-time cushion with 16th goal of the season against Walsall at Sixfields
The Sky Blues take a 1-0 lead into half time after a great finish from Callum Wilson in what was an entertaining first half which saw chances for both sides.Following the 0-0 draw with Shrewsbury on Sunday, City manager Steven Pressley made one change to the starting line-up for the Sky Blue's West Midlands derby at home to Walsall.
Franck Moussa failed a very late fitness test and so Mark Marshall made his first start for Coventry after joining in February.
Carl Baker dropped out of the match day squad as he also failed a late fitness test and so on-loan Nathan
The Sky Blues very nearly took a two-goal lead on the stroke of half time though when a wicked waist-high cross from the right from Marshall almost saw Paul Downing turn the ball into his own net although O'Donnell did fantastically well to tip the ball over the bar from point blank range.
More decent hold-up play from Akpom lead to more persistence from City after half an hour had elapsed but nothing came from it.
The Sky Blues took the lead though after a fine ball from Chuba Akpom to Wilson gave the striker the time and space to place the ball into the back of the net in the 22nd minute. The 22-year- old then ran straight to the touchline to celebrate with physio Dave Hart who had clearly helped in Wilson's recovery from injury.
The away side launched a counter attack and forced a terrific save from Murphy after Brandy's shot in the 20th minute was deflected off Webster, the City 'keeper making a superb reflex stop.
A run from on-loan midfielder Michael Petrasso then resulted in a shot which flew just wide of the post before good work from Marshall on the flank resulted in the start of the Sky Blues turning up the pressure on the Walsall box.
The game began in a tentative fashion with both teams trying to play the ball around in midfield. Coventry's first corner came before the 10th minute after Wilson's effort was pushed away by visiting goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell.
Delfouneso came back in after recovering from the groin injury which had kept him out since the Sky Blues' away win at Bristol City in February.
Teams
Coventry City: Murphy, Webster, Seaborne (c), Willis, Clarke, Fleck, Thomas, Petrasso, Marshall, Akpom, Wilson
Subs: Burge (GK), Christie, Adams, Delfouneso, McGeouch, Barton, Daniels
Walsall: O'Donnell, Butler (c), Featherstone, Chambers, Lalkovic, Westcarr, Downing, Benning, Chambers, Sawyers, Brandy
Subs: Roberts (GK), Purkiss, Hemmings, Baxendale, Hewitt, McQuilkin, Ngoo