Stockport & Bolton Square Off for Championship Place

Stockport County and Bolton Wanderers lock horns in this season’s EFL League One play-off final. Only two points separated these two evenly matched teams in the regular season.

This Season’s Head-to-Head

Stockport and Bolton were top-six rivals all season, with County finishing third on 77 points, while the Trotters ended their campaign two points behind in fifth.

Right at the very start of the season, Stockport picked up a 2-0 victory over Bolton at Edgeley Park, with Malik Mothersille and Kyle Wootton getting the goals.

Last month’s matchup at the Toughsheet Community Stadium was a four-goal thriller, with the pair taking a point apiece. The Hatters came from behind to lead, but a late Ben Osborn own goal saw the feisty fixture end in a 2-2 draw.

Stockport have a good recent record over Bolton, unbeaten in four (three wins, one draw) and scoring ten. Wanderers’ last league success against County came in the 1998-99 Division One season.

Who Will Book Their Spot in the EFL Championship?

Going by the latest odds, the bookies are having a tough time splitting the two. They are virtually level in the betting, but who will hold their nerve and claim a place in the 2026-27 EFL Championship?

Stockport were the first team to secure a spot at Wembley Stadium, cruising past Stevenage over two legs. After a 1-0 victory at Broadhall Way, two early goals on home turf gave Dave Challinor’s troops a deserved 3-0 aggregate win.

Bolton also triumphed in both legs of their League One play-off semi-final, defeating Bradford City. Steven Schumacher’s side picked up a 1-0 win at home before winning the second leg at the University of Bradford Stadium by the same scoreline to progress.

Stockport are hoping to secure second-tier football for the first time in a quarter of a century. As for Bolton, they are desperate to end their seven-year absence from the Championship.