Coventry remain undefeated in the league under Roland Nilsson after David Thompson hit a stunning goal to give City victory and move them up into the play-off zone.

Thompson’s goal, a dipping strike from around 30 yards, was the highlight of a game never short on action and incident.

The fact that the Sky Blues could not add to his 14th minute goal meant they had to endure some nervy moments in the second half but, as seems to have been true for most of Roland Nilsson’s reign, fortune was with them.

MARCUS HALL AND MATTHEW GADSBY

The Sky Blue manager, who is just into his second month in charge, was able to make three desired changes from the side which lost against Chelsea in the Worthington Cup on Tuesday, but he also lost Youssef Safri through suspension.

That forced Nilsson to play Thompson on the left flank and it did not take the midfielder long to make an impression. He was given time and space on the fringes of the Walsall area and made the most of both, with a fine, fine shot which left Jimmy Walker flat footed.

That could and maybe should have been the signal for Coventry to ram home their early advantage, but they let too many chances go to waste. Lee Hughes, who now desperately needs a goal, opted to pass to Jairo Martinez rather than shoot when he had a good opportunity in the 21st minute but then set the little Honduran away eight minutes from the interval.

Martinez fooled Walker only to see his shot hit the post and bounce out. He was also unlucky just before half time when Ian Brightwell appeared to pull him back on the half way line.

IAN BRIGHTWELL v JAIRO MARTINEZ

The former City defender was the last man and for a moment it looked as if he would walk but amazingly, the referee gave the foul the other way.

The second half never quite matched the first but Walsall, especially once they introduced Brett Angell to the attack, built up an impressive head of steam.

Magnus Hedman pulled off one fine save from Tony Barras and there were several goal mouth scrambles which could have gone either way.

At the other end, Hughes and Martinez failed to take chances which would have killed the home side off, while Walker again made two excellent stops.

Nilsson had guided the Sky Blues up 14 places since being thrown in at the deep end. His biggest achievement has been to restore the confidence and faith of the players and that has allowed them to develop a formidable momentum.

He seems set to make his post permanent this week and a victory at Rotherham on Wednesday really would have people believing that, despite their wretched start, Coventry are serious promotion contenders.

WALSALL:
James Walker; Ian Brightwell, Tony Barras, Steve Chettle, Zigor Aranalde, Matthew Gadsby (Pedro Miguel Matias, 78), Erevelto (Fitzroy Simpson, 57), Tom Bennett, Darren Wrack, Jorge Leitao (Brett Angell, 62), Darren Byfield
Subs not used: Lee Harper; Ian Roper

COVENTRY CITY:
Magnus Hedman; Richard Shaw, Muhamed Konjic, Gary Breen, Marcus Hall, David Thompson, Laurent Delorge (Marc Edworthy, 71), Lee Carsley, Youssef Chippo, Lee Hughes, Jairo Martinez (Jay Bothroyd, 60)
Subs not used: Gary Montgomery, Barry Quinn, Ivan Guerrero

GOALS:
Coventry - Thompson (14)

REFEREE:

BOOKINGS:
Walsall - Aranalde (foul, 40)
Coventry – Carsley (foul, 1)

ATTENDANCE: 7,515

COVENTRY LEAGUE POSITION: 5th with 20 points