At the other end, Notts County's veteran striker Jon Stead smashes a fierce effort towards goal, but wide.

Image source, Rex Features

A near-post cross by Marc McNulty is diverted towards goal and keeper Adam Collin does superbly to keep it out - just.

Goalline technology comes to Notts County's rescue, and the travelling fans can breathe again.

Image source, Rex Features

On-loan Notts County midfielder Jorge Grant has barely had a chance to show his attacking talents tonight.

The Nottingham Forest man has 18 goals this season, but it's his defensive work which is having to catch the eye so far. And it is.

Free-kicks aplenty at the Ricoh. It's quite disjointed at the moment.

If it carries on in this manner, with challenges flying in on this surface, then I reckon there's a very good chance we won't finish with 11 men on each team.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at the Ricoh Arena

Image source, PA

Midlands clubs have generally had a pretty sorry record in the play-offs, and also in terms of teams getting to Wembley in almost any competition.

But might that all be about to change?

So far in this season's EFL play-offs, Shrewsbury Town and Aston Villa have both been 1-0 first-leg away winners, and the eventual victor of this tie has to be from the Midlands, whether East or West.

No wonder this game is proving so competitive.

That, and the falling rain and the soaking wet pitch, which is inevitably leading to a fast-flowing, error-strewn game of thrills, spills and splashes...

Now Coventry midfielder Michael Doyle goes into the book. Presumably for having too much to say. It's lively this.

An exquisite ball by Notts County's Dan Jones, left-footed into the box.

Jonathan Forte just needs a good connection a couple of yards from goal and it's 1-0 but he knocks it up in the air and it's cleared.

A lucky escape for the hosts, that.

It's much more end to end now. A nervy moment or two in the Notts County defence but they break and win a free kick 45 yards from goal.

Chris Stones is booked for a late challenge on Matt Tootle. A bit harsh - especially given the conditions.

It's astonishing to think Coventry have never been involved in a play-off campaign before now.

They seem intent on making this one a successful debut.

There's plenty of good football on display from the hosts, despite the horrible conditions. They are getting the full-backs very high up the pitch and it's causing lots of problems for Notts.

Image source, Rex Features

Now Notts are gaining in confidence. Dan Jones fizzes a shot across goal with his left foot.

They have had a couple of minutes on the attack and, after Coventry's excellent start, they needed that.

Ooooh. That's a chance for Jonathan Forte, who heads over from the inswinging corner as he stretched to meet it.

He scored twice when Notts beat the Sky Blues 2-1 at Meadow Lane earlier this season.

Coventry won the league game at the Ricoh Arena 3-0 in August and it could easily have been more than a 3-0 scoreline.

Not many were predicting Notts County to be pushing for promotion after that.

So far a repeat of that result does not look wholly unlikely. But Notts have some respite as they win a corner...

Notts keeper Adam Collin got in a bit - well a lot - of a mess trying to deal with a long ball. He came out of his area and eventually clears the ball after taking a big swipe with his first attempt.

The conditions certainly played a part.

Image source, Rex Features

Agonisingly close. A sensational run in behind by the prolific Marc McNulty and his shot across goal strikes the inside of the post, while the follow-up attempt is blocked.

Coventry are well on top.

It was a delightful throughball by Jordan Shipley to play in McNulty in the inside right channel and the striker was so unlucky with the finish.

Image source, Rex Features

Notts County cannot get a foothold in the game at the moment - and not just in the sense they are struggling to stand up because of the conditions.

They have just had their first attempt on goal though. Maybe that will settle them. Jorge Grant blazes a shot over after a long ball is only half-cleared.

Playing any sort of football on this surface is not going to be easy. Players are slipping and sliding and the ball is holding up if played on the deck.

Coventry are giving it a good go though. A brilliant move on the right sees Liam Kelly tee up a shooting chance but Shaun Brisley gets in the way.

A bright start by Coventry on a miserable and damp May evening.

There is surface water on the pitch and the ball is already sticking.

A huge deluge not long before kick-off means it's far from ideal. Let's hope the pitch doesn't get worse.

Image source, Rex Features

Away we go. Coventry get us up and running.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at the Ricoh Arena

The weather isn't getting any better. There are a lot of very wet supporters at kick-off time at both ends of the ground, and the sky looks like it has a bit more to unload!

It's nowhere near full here at the Ricoh. It's pretty cold and very wet, but that doesn't mean there's not a fabulous atmosphere as the game gets under way.

The teams are out. Saturday's fourth play-off encounter is moments away.