Coventry claim controversial draw against Notts County

Marc McNulty's controversial late penalty helped Coventry to rescue a 1-1 draw against Notts County in the first leg of their Sky Bet League Two play-off tie.McNulty levelled from the spot with three minutes left after Matt Tootle was ruled to have tripped Tom Bayliss at the Ricoh Arena.The Magpies had been set to take a slender 1-0 lead back to Meadow Lane after Jonathan Forte gave them a 49th-minute lead.Notts had ridden their luck during a pulsating contest with the home side hitting the post twice in the first half.The Sky Blues also went close with headers from McNulty and Jack Grimmer before drawing level.Shaun Brisley blocked a McNulty shot for a corner in the opening five minutes as Coventry started strongly.McNulty hit the post in the ninth minute after Jordan Shipley's perfect pass put him through on goal.Forte fired a bullet header just over from Jorge Grant's 17th-minute corner as Notts started to grow into the game. Lee Burge made an unorthodox save with his feet to keep out Forte's header in the 26th minute after Daniel Jones' free-kick caused bother.Adam Collin superbly pushed a block by Brisley against the post after 37 minutes, with goal-line technology ruling the ball had not crossed the line.Jon Stead fired into the side-netting a minute later after finding space in the box.The frantic first half ended with Bayliss slicing an effort wide at the end of a flowing move by the Sky Blues.Grimmer headed Liam Kelly's 46th-minute corner over from inside the six-yard box.Forte fired the Magpies into a 49th-minute lead after cheekily slotting home with the inside of his trailing foot from close range.It was a goal finely created by Jones, who beat Grimmer with a brilliant sliding tackle before setting the striker up.Shipley shot over from long range on the hour mark, before Bayliss fired wide after he turned well and beat his man five minutes later.An unmarked McNulty saw a goalbound header blocked by Jones for a corner after 74 minutes as the home side stepped up the pressure.Coventry were given a lifeline when referee Gavin Ward ruled that Tootle had hacked Bayliss down in the box after 86 minutes.McNulty then took full advantage to send Collin the wrong way and score his 27th goal of the season.