Summary

  • Coventry reach the League Two play-off final

  • Sky Blues will face Exeter at Wembley on 28 May

  • Biamou's brilliant overhead kick put Coventry ahead

  • McNulty finished outstanding team goal for 2-0

  • Grant slotted home, but Biamou restored two-goal lead

  • Bayliss scores from 20 yards to seal victory

  1. Postpublished at Good night from Nottinghamshire

    FT: Notts County 1-4 Coventry (agg 2-5)

    After some games which have been a bit on the drab side, tonight at Meadow Lane, we had all the play-off drama we were looking for . . . and more.

    Five goals, five bookings, two more dubious refereeing decisions, a fabulous atmosphere and finally a result that did not go with the formbook.

    Are the good times returning to Coventry? Well played up, Sky Blues.

  2. Here's what you might've missed...published at 21:57 British Summer Time 18 May 2018

    Notts County 1-4 Coventry City (2-5 agg)

    If you're just tuning in, you can read Tom Garry's developing report to catch up on everything you might've missed at Meadow Lane...

    Notts County 1-4 Coventry City (2-5 agg)

    Coventry City beat Notts County to reach the League Two play-off final and move closer to a first promotion since 1967.

    Read More
  3. 'Coventry are back at Wembley'published at 21:55 British Summer Time 18 May 2018

    FT: Notts County 1-4 Coventry (agg 2-5)

    Rob Gurney
    BBC WM Sport at Meadow Lane

    Wembley! In a haze of blue smoke on a high octane night of emotion, tension and scintillating football from the Sky Blues.

    Undoubtedly the turning point was Notts, coming on strong in the second half at 2-1 down, being denied by a brilliant one-handed save from Lee Burge and then Jonathan Forte’s header being disallowed for offside from the corner.

    But the four and a half thousand Coventry fans carried the players home - two more goals later - and they're back at Wembley for a second successive season.

  4. 'We were brilliant tonight'published at 21:51 British Summer Time 18 May 2018

    FT: Notts County 1-4 Coventry (agg 2-5)

    Notts County v CoventryImage source, Getty Images

    Coventry goalscorer Marc McNulty told Sky Sports:

    "It's a massive club. This has been a long time coming. The fans have had a few relegations and a few disappointments, but just look at it now - we're buzzing and it's just exciting getting to Wembley. If we play like we did tonight we're confident we can beat anyone on our day.

    "We were brilliant tonight. We went through a little spell where they were on top. They came out in the second half and were on the front foot. And we rode our luck, but fair play to the boys - All round it was brilliant.

    "We had the game under control in the first half and, when they got the goal before half-time it swung the game in their favour."

  5. Next stop Wembley...published at 21:48 British Summer Time 18 May 2018

    FT: Notts County 1-4 Coventry (agg 2-5)

    So victory for Coventry City completes our English Football League play-off line-up...

    Saturday, 26 May: Fulham v Aston Villa - Championship play-off final, 17:00 BST

    Sunday, 27 May: Rotherham v Shrewsbury - League One play-off final, 15:00 BST

    Monday, 28 May: Exeter City v Coventry City - League Two play-off final, 15:00 BST

    Of course, we'll have full coverage of each of those finals here on the BBC Sport website.

  6. 'I am happy for the fans'published at 21:47 British Summer Time 18 May 2018

    FT: Notts County 1-4 Coventry (agg 2-5)

    Coventry striker and man of the match Max Biamou told Sky Sports:

    "It is the first time in my life to go to Wembley. I am very happy for the fans."

  7. FULL-TIMEpublished at 90+6 mins

    Notts County 1-4 Coventry (agg 2-5)

    That's it.Coventry are deserved winners on the night. And they now meet Exeter City on Monday 28 May.

    They played so well in that first half and could have led by more. But City had more than their fair share of luck.

    Three big refereeing decisions all went against luckless Notts.

  8. Postpublished at 90 mins

    Notts County 1-4 Coventry (agg 2-5)

    Six minutes of added time. Really, it just means six added minutes of singing time for the Sky Blue army.

    It also means, after so long without a Midlands side in the play-offs, all three of this year's entrants, Aston Villa, Shrewsbury Town and now Coventry too are heading for Wembley.

  9. Postpublished at 89 mins

    Notts County 1-4 Coventry (agg 2-5)

    Needless to say, Coventry are the first away side to have scored four goals at Meadow Lane this season.

    Notts themselves have hit four here four times this season in finishing above Cov in the final table, But in the play-offs, where a team has finished after 46 games, often counts for little.

  10. Coventry on the brink...published at 89 mins

    Notts County 1-4 Coventry (agg 2-5)

    Rob Gurney
    BBC WM Sport at Meadow Lane

    'Que sera sera' is being sung long and loud by the Sky Blue Army now!

  11. goal

    GOAL Notts County 1-4 Coventry (agg 2-5)published at 85 mins

    Tom Bayliss

    It would be, wouldn't it?!!! Tom Bayliss seals it for the Sky Blues.

    Put clear by a slide-rule pass from Dominic Hyam, Bayliss runs forward and slides home a left-foot shot which deflects off the poor, luckless Matt Tootle.

    How very cruel, given the way the first leg ended with that harsh penalty award on Tootle - against Bayliss.

  12. Postpublished at 83 mins

    Notts County 1-3 Coventry (agg 2-4)

    Time running out for Notts. Just seven minutes, plus add-ons.

    We've not had a penalty shootout yet in these play-offs. It would take two Notts goals to trigger one now!

  13. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 78 mins

    Notts County 1-3 Coventry (agg 2-4)

    The vastly experienced Shola Ameobi comes on for Lewis Alessandra for Notts. A second substitution by Nolan.

    This one needs to work fast.

  14. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 75 mins

    Notts County 1-3 Coventry (agg 2-4)

    After some nervy times at the start of this second half, the Cov fans are now back in full voice again. Have their team done enough now?

    Two-goal Max Biamou has now gone off, to be replaced by Jonson Clarke-Harris. The added irony is that he was about to be subbed just before he scored. How often does that sort of thing happen?

  15. goal

    GOAL: Notts County 1-3 Coventry (agg 2-4)published at 71 mins

    Max Biamou

    Notts County v CoventryImage source, Rex Features

    Hopeless defending by the hosts as Max Biamou somehow picks his way through a crowded box with a low right-foot shot.

    He looked suspiciously offside at one point in his progress into the penalty area... But this time the flag stays down.

    Notts County v CoventryImage source, Rex Features
  16. DISALLOWED GOALpublished at 65 mins

    Notts County 1-2 Coventry (agg 2-3)

    Another huge moment in this tie.

    Jonathan Forte has the ball in the back of the net, but the lino has flagged for offside. It was a very tight call but TV replays suggest the decision may have been wrong.

    Forte then almost gets in again but this time is denied by a challenge from Dominic Hyam.

    Notts County v CoventryImage source, Rex Features
  17. GREAT SAVE!published at 64 mins

    Notts County 1-2 Coventry (agg 2-3)

    Lee Burge goes full stretch to his right to keep out Jon Stead. How crucial will that save be? Superb keeping by the City custodian, who was left badly exposed.

  18. 'The tension is palpable'published at 60 mins

    Notts County 1-2 Coventry (agg 2-3)

    Rob Gurney
    BBC WM Sport at Meadow Lane

    That was a blatant body check by Richard Duffy on Max Biamou, which produces a Coventry free-kick on the edge of the box... But Michael Doyle rustles the top of the net rather than into the roof.

    The tension is palpable now.

  19. ouch!

    Postpublished at 58 mins

    Notts County 1-2 Coventry (agg 2-3)

    Biamou down with what looks like a neck injury after a painful collision with Sky Blues old boy Duffy, who also goes down clutching his face. It means a City free kick on the edge of the box. But Doyle's left-foot floater drifts just over the angle.

  20. Postpublished at 57 mins

    Notts County 1-2 Coventry (agg 2-3)

    Burge eases the pressure by coming to claim a free-kick. Maybe it will give the Sky Blurs the chance to settle down after being hit by a Notts barrage.