Coventry 5-1 Walsall - Report

When we felt our season couldn't get any worse we found ourselves losing 5-1 against Coventry City.

Earlier this week the lads were rewarded for their 15 games without a win, with a trip to Snowdon - for a bonding session. This is the common trend at Walsall currently with people awarded for failure. First Dean Smith is given a 2 year deal following 7 games winless run and now the players are rewarded...Any chance the fans can have a reward for putting up with this tat for nearly 4 years???

Manager Dean Smith decided that despite our draws recently he would change the starting line up, with Westcarr playing at the expense of Ashley Hemmings.

Walsall would surprisingly take the lead after 16 minutes when Coventry's own Jamie Paterson swung in a cross that was sliced by Blair Adams past his own keeper.

If the lead was surprising for the 1,072 travelling Saddlers then they were brought back down to earth with an equalising goal that we have seen 32 times already this season. Our dodgy defence allowed Carl Baker to skip past them with ease to fire past McCarey and to make it 1-1.

To follow up the routine dodgy defending, it was another routine misplaced pass from Paterson that allowed Coventry to take the lead. Paterson lost the ball inside the Coventry half which allowed Carl Baker to assist David McGoldrick who wasn't going to miss, as he delicately chipped McCarey to make it 2-1.

The talking point of the game came two minutes later when it looked obvious to everyone that McGoldrick handled the ball before slotting it past McCarey 3-1. Anyone would think by Dean Smith's comments that this goal was the major influence on our humiliating defeat, I would put it down to inept tactical decisions and poor decisions in the transfer market!

Just after the hour mark, Coventry made it 4-1. That man again Carl Baker played in Christie who had too much time on the right to fire a shot past McCarey into the bottom corner. Dean Holden did score for us only for it to be ruled offside from Nicky Featherstones free kick.

Deep into injury time Walsall captain Andy Butler was sent off for his second yellow...you would imagine his referee badges would avoid two silly bookings?? Our afternoon got worse when Carl Baker scored from long range. The Coventry captain had a hand in all 5 goals, quality player!

What now? Easy decision, SACK DEAN SMITH and try and salvage something of this season.

We are out of every cup competition and haven't won in 16 league and cup games. If that isn't the recipe for managers dismissal then I don't know what is. However it is Walsall FC and the board are easily pleased, expect a 5 year deal for Deano in the days to come......

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