Notts County 1 Coventry 4 (agg 2-5): Max Biamou and Marc McNulty set up League Two play-off final showdown with Exeter


COVENTRY will face Exeter at Wembley on Monday May 28 thanks to Max and Sparks.

Two-goal hero Max Biamou and strike partner Marc McNulty, affectionately nicknamed Sparky, bagged three goals between them before Tom Bayliss added a late fourth.

Coventry booked their place at Wembley with a 4-1 win at Notts County
Coventry booked their place at Wembley with a 4-1 win at Notts County
PA:Empics Sport

The result gives the Sky Blues a shot at a potential return to League One if they get the better of the Grecians.

Last Friday’s first leg was laced with controversy as ref Gavin Ward awarded Coventry an 87th-minute penalty despite Matt Tootle playing the ball when Bayliss went down in the box.

McNulty levelled the tie from the spot — but needless to say there was no love lost between this famous pair.


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The atmosphere was electric as this frantic second leg hurtled from one end to the other with Coventry surging ahead after just six minutes.

Skipper Michael Doyle’s corner was only partially cleared and Jordan Willis nodded the ball back into the danger area.

iamou conjured up a contender for goal of the season with a sensational bicycle kick. It left County keeper Adam Collin frozen to the spot as the ball flew past him.

Max Biamou scored twice in a 4-1 victory on Friday night
Max Biamou scored twice in a 4-1 victory on Friday night
Action Images
Marc McNulty was also on the score sheet for the Sky Blues
Marc McNulty was also on the score sheet for the Sky Blues
PA:Empics Sport

There were frenzied celebrations among Cov’s big boisterous travelling support, who had virtually turned this into a home match for Mark Robins’ boys.

However, the FA could punish the club with a fine after two sky blue flares landed on the pitch.

Striker Jon Stead flashed a shot just over as County tried to respond but Coventry were in control and McNulty almost added to their lead with a volley which flew narrowly over.

Then Collin thwarted the Coventry dangerman to push away his blistering low shot for a corner.

But McNulty was not to be denied and made it third time lucky when he added a second Cov goal after 37 minutes.

Liam Kelly got round the back of the County defence and squared for the Scot who calmly and clinically stroked the ball home from ten yards for his 28th goal of the season.

Coventry face Exeter on May 28 for a place in League One next season
Coventry face Exeter on May 28 for a place in League One next season
PA:Press Association

But just when it looked all over for the home side Jorge Grant handed them a lifeline from nowhere when he pounced on some indecision at the back to slam the ball home from six yards.

This feisty affair threatened to boil over on half-time when a ten-man ruck developed after a spat between Shaun Brisley and McNulty, which saw both go in the book.

County started on the front foot after the restart but Grant’s shot on the turn was safely smothered by Lee Burge, who then surpassed himself with a stunning one-handed save to deny Stead.

The hosts thought they had equalised through Jonathan Forte on 65 minutes but the striker was judged to be offside. However TV replays suggested he was marginally onside.

There was a sucker punch from City on the break five minutes later — and to add insult to injury replays showed the linesman missed TWO offsides in the build up to Biamou’s second goal.

Bayliss then put the game and the tie to bed on 85 minutes with a 20-yard deflected effort into the bottom corner.


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