Jordan Willis says there’s a determined feeling in the Coventry City camp that it will be pay back time when Walsall come to town this weekend.

The Sky Blues have been beaten twice by their Midland rivals this season, losing 3-2 in the FA Cup in October and then 2-1 in the first of their two League One encounters in the closest thing to a local derby these days.

The latter result was all the harder to swallow due to the fact that City had led 1-0 for 90 minutes before being undone by a 90th minute equaliser and stoppage time winner from the penalty spot Coventry-born player Luke Leahy.

Asked if there’s a feeling in the dressing room at Ryton that they owe the Saddlers, centre-half Willis said: “There is, definitely!

Fighting talk: Jordan Willis believes the Sky Blues owe their Midland rivals

“No-one wants to be beaten three times in a season by one team so there’s certainly an aura about the place that we want to get that win, and even more so on the back of the last few weeks when the performances have been good.

“We have created a lot of chances and not given away too many either.

“If the performances weren’t great we’d be worrying but we know we just need to keep plugging away and the results will come.”

Reflecting on the December kick in the teeth , the defender added: “Thinking back it was not nice, especially to lose so late on after we’d been winning the game.

“But it happens in football and a big part of the game is how you react to things like that, try to react in a positive way and try to turn things round quickly and then you give yourself a great chance.”

Back to winning ways last weekend with a decent 1-0 win at Rochdale – City’s first ever win at Spotland – Willis and his team-mates are determined to build on the decent football that has not always seen them get the rewards they feel they deserve.

Jordan Shipley couldn't hide his disappointment at the Banks's Stadium earlier in the season

“I enjoyed my football at the weekend, thought we passed the ball about well and played some good stuff, which has been a feature of our play this year,” said the 24-year-old Sky Blues Academy graduate.

“We like to play it out from the back and have been playing really well, and I think we showed that on Saturday.

“And to get the goal to top the performance off was brilliant, and hopefully we can build on that this weekend.”

Willis was one of a number of Academy graduates who attended Tuesday night’s official opening of the new 3G indoor pitch facility at the Alan Higgs Centre where future generations of Sky Blues stars are now training.

Like current first teamers Jordan Shipley, Tom Bayliss and Lee Burge, and former player James Maddison, Willis is always happy to go back and offer his support.

“The Academy means a lot to me,” he said.

Former Sky Blues Academy star James Maddison officially opens the new indoor pitch at the Alan Higgs Centre. Back row from left; Andrew Knox (Rubb Buildings Limited), Paul Breed (CV Life), Richard Stevens (Coventry City Academy manager), Jordan Willis, Tom Bayliss, Jordan Shipley. Front row from left cutting the ribbon; Farid Addey (Coventry City U11s), James Maddison, Aaron Fregjaj (Coventry City U11s).

“It gave me my chance to become a professional footballer, so it means everything to me.

“We had an indoor pitch like this when I was coming through, although the surface wasn’t as good, but it’s brilliant to have, especially in the winter when the pitches aren’t so great and you can come inside and have some quality sessions.”

He added: “The Academy has got a great reputation with lads at the top end of the game with the likes of James Maddison, Callum Wilson and Cyrus Christie all playing in the Premier League, and the lads that are in the Coventry first team now.

“That’s credit to all the coaches from all the age groups because without them, and right up to the first team coaches who help them continue to progress, they wouldn’t be the players that they today.”

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