Super Sky Blues Hit Five

Coventry City’s steady improvement under Mark Robins continued in fine style on Saturday as they cruised past Walsall at the Ricoh Arena.

The Sky Blues had already created two clear chances when a Blair Adams own goal gifted Walsall the lead but the home side shrugged off that setback to carve regularly through the Saddlers’ backline.

David McGoldrick’s quality, backed up by the breaks of Baker, McSheffrey and Moussa was far too much for the visitors, who took out their frustrations on the referee and were eventually reduced to ten men.

Pleasingly, City kept up to their work until the final whistle, stretching the play and continually closing down their opponents.

‘Realistic Robins’

Mark Robins looked to keep his side’s feet on the ground when interviewed on BBC CWR after the game, pointing to some sloppy play when the Sky Blues were 4-1 up and also expressing his frustration that the booked Baker will miss a tough trip to Doncaster next week.

Opposite number Dean Smith had gripes with the officials over City’s third and fourth goals but added: “I won’t let that detract from our defending because that was not good enough.”

In other City news, on a day when the supporters were able to put aside the rent row, Kevin Kilbane announced his retirement and the Northern Area draw for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy produced a home draw against either Bury or Preston in the semi-final.