CITY pulled off a second successive comeback win on the road to shock Walsall.

T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER watched a crazy game at the Bescot Stadium yesterday and provides the match stats and his player ratings.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Andy Cook punished Walsall as he often does and Sam Walker pulled off some huge saves – but my nod goes to skipper Richie Smallwood for his leadership and organisation when City had their backs to the wall after going down to 10 men.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

City enjoyed a bizarre escape when Tom Knowles cross ended up hitting the inside of the post and the underside of the bar before Sam Walker reacted quickest to flick away the rebound.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

City were awful for the first 16 minutes, conceding a very soft second goal to leave them a mountain to climb at that stage – something they scaled in a remarkable turnaround.

TACTICS

Graham Alexander kept faith with the team that came from behind to win at Salford the previous week, naming an unchanged starting line-up and bench.

REFEREE: Adam Herczeg (Durham)

BOOKINGS: Allen, Knowles (Walsall); Kelly, Wright, Smallwood (City)

SENT OFF: J Walker (City)

ATTENDANCE: 6,656

SHOTS ON TARGET: Walsall 7 City 5

SHOTS OFF TARGET: Walsall 15 City 6

CORNERS: Walsall 9 City 4

FOULS: Walsall 13 City 14

PLAYER RATINGS

WALSALL: Smith 7, Okagbue 6 (James-Taylor 79min), Daniels 7, Allen 7, Foulkes 6 (Knowles 59min, 7), Hutchinson 7, Stirk 7, Comley 6 (Tierney 59min, 6), L Gordon 8, Faal 7 (Johnson 74min), J Gordon 6 (Matt 60min, 6). Subs (not used): Farquharson, Evans.

CITY: S Walker 8, Oyegoke 6, Platt 6, Kelly 6 (Oduor 82min), Halliday 7, Smallwood 8, Wright 7 (Richards 89min), Pointon 7 (Tomkinson 73min), J Walker 7, Kavanagh 6 (Gilliead 73min), Cook 8. Subs (not used): Chapman, Smith, Doyle.