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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Emillia Hawkins

Bolton Wanderers 4-1 Stockport County: League One playoff final – as it happened

John McAtee in a white kit shouts and clenches his fists in celebration on a pitch
Bolton are promoted! Photograph: Shaun Brooks/CameraSport/Getty Images

That’s all from me! Simon Burnton is on hand now to cover the Premier League final day.

Billy Munday was at Wembley this afternoon. You can read his match report here:

Bolton head coach Steven Schumacher tells Sky Sports: “It was really difficult, especially in the first half, the heat and the conditions. I just said to the players at half-time, our intensity needs to be a bit higher with the ball and without the ball.

“If we can make a few more passes, tire Stockport out and get into the final third then we’re in a position to create. Second half, I thought we were brilliant.”

Bolton midfielder Josh Sheehan tells Sky Sports: “This is the best day ever, with the group of lads we’ve got, they’re such a great group and to do it for this club and these fans after so much heartache it’s all worth it now.

“The first day I signed here the target was to get in the Championship, obviously it’s taken longer than we wanted but this is the best feeling ever.”

The trophy has been lifted. Bolton have done it! They will be playing in the Championship next season.

Updated

Everything seemed to shift when Steven Schumacher made the decision to put Sam Dalby on in the 62nd minute. From that moment, Bolton completely dominated the match.

Full-time: Bolton Wanderers 4-1 Stockport County

Bolton are promoted to the Championship!

Updated

90+6 min: Stockport made a change amid the chaos. Callum Connolly is on for Edun.

GOAL! Bolton Wanderers 4-1 Stockport County (Rúben Rodrigues, 90+4)

Rodrigues calmly converts the penalty to make it four! Game over.

Updated

RED CARD! (Josh Dacres-Cogley, 90+2)

The full-back is sent off for that hair pull and Bolton have a penalty.

That should be it for Stockport.

Updated

90+1 min: The referee has been called to check the VAR monitor for a potential hair pull from Dacres-Cogley on Cissoko. It could result in a red card and penalty.

Updated

90+1 min: We’re into another eight minutes of added time.

87 min: Bonham is down with what appears to be a calf issue. It looks like he is trying to stretch it out. He should be able to continue.

84 min: Stockport made another change just before that goal, with Malik Mothersille on for Osborn.

82 min: The ball is sent to Dalby in the box, who holds it up as it bounces before flicking it over his head and into the net!

What an impact he has made since coming on!

GOAL! Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Stockport County (Sam Dalby, 81)

Dalby nets a brilliant strike to all-but send Bolton into the Championship!

Updated

80 min: It’s all Bolton at the moment. Stockport haven’t really had much of a look-in over the last 10 minutes or so.

We’re into the final 10 minutes.

78 min: Cissoko does well to cut inside from the left and make his way into the box before going for goal. He attempts to squeeze his shot through a tiny gap and wins a corner as a result, but nothing comes of the set-piece.

75 min: Conway hobbles off with a knock. He is replaced by Cyrus Christie.

72 min: Steven Schumacher has made another two changes for Bolton, with John McAtee on for Burstow and Gale making way for Ibrahim Cissoko.

71 min: Another water break…

Updated

68 min: Stockport also made two more changes, with Benony Andresson replacing Stokes and Jack Diamond on for Barry.

66 min: A huge save from Bonham! The goalkeeper makes himself big to stop a close-range effort from Tanto Olaofe, who has just replaced Sidibeh. An excellent save.

64 min: The ball is played forward to Dalby, who makes an immediate impact by flicking it behind to Cozier-Duberry, who looks to fire it past Addai . The goalkeeper gets a glove to it, deflecting the ball into the path of Wootton, who runs it into his own net.

GOAL! Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Stockport County (Kyle Wootton OG, 63)

Bolton are back in front!

Updated

62 min: Bolton make the first change of the game as Sam Dalby replaces Simons.

Dave Challinor is also preparing some changes for Stockport.

60 min: Wootton is booked for a very late challenge on Rodrigues. It came following a defensive mix-up, which saw the attacking midfielder win possession before breaking forward.

Updated

56 min: Bolton are on the front foot as things stand, but as we saw in the first half, that could change at any point. Stockport have defended well so far.

53 min: Stockport have a corner, but the ball flies straight back out for a goal kick.

51 min: That handball shout has been checked and quickly cleared. Not much in that at all.

50 min: Bolton players appeal for a handball in the box following a cross. Three Stockport players were around the ball. This might be checked…

48 min: Sheehan goes for goal from outside the box and forces Addai into a save. This time, a Bolton defender is there to clear the immediate danger.

Kick-off: Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Stockport County

And we’re back under way!

The official EFL statement following the disallowed goal:

Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final - 11th minute. After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to Stockport County.

Referee announcement: “After review, Stockport #29 commits a careless challenge on Bolton #6, my final decision is no goal.”

Adama Sidibeh was certainly the stand-out player in that first half, constantly causing problems for the Bolton defence. The Trotters will have to avoid making any mistakes in the second half, as he will almost certainly be there to pounce.

Updated

Stockport responded very well after going behind within the opening three minutes. They had the better chances for the remainder of the half and will have plenty of confidence going into the second.

Half-time: Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Stockport County

It’s all level at the break! This has been a great game so far.

45+7 min: Rodrigues flings himself to ground after coming into contact with the arm of Wootton. VAR has checked. No cards needed.

45+4 min: Bolton are looking to regain their lead as we count down to half-time. Stockport continue to defend well, however.

45+1 min: We’re into eight minutes of added time…

45 min: Rodrigues wins a free kick on the edge of the box following a shirt pull from Osborn. Cozier-Duberry steps up to take it and goes for goal, but his attempt is blocked.

43 min: Osei-Tutu wins the ball in his own half and makes a stunning solo run straight through the middle of the pitch before making his way into the box and going for goal, but his effort is blocked.

What a solo effort that was!

Updated

40 min: Five minutes to go in this first half and Stockport probably have the momentum as things stand, but this could really go either way.

36 min: Cozier-Duberry cuts in from the right and looks to curl a shot into the top-left corner, but Addai claims it with ease.

34 min: Stockport responded well after going behind in the early stages and were rewarded with that goal. Certainly deserved.

30 min: Bailey cuts inside from the right and floats a cross into the box. With his back to goal, Sidibeh flicks it towards the target with the back of his head, sending the ball into the bottom-left corner.

A very well-worked goal from Stockport.

GOAL! Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Stockport County (Adama Sidibeh, 29)

Sidibeh strikes again! This one will surely count!

Updated

28 min: The free kick is taken but cleared by the first man in the Bolton defensive line.

27 min: The players are back on and Stockport have a free kick on the right side…

24 min: Time for a quick water break!

21 min: A long ball is sent wide to Cozier-Duberry, but Addai comes out of his box to get there first and head it clear.

18 min: Stockport have a corner. The ball is crossed into the box and Sidibeh heads it back across goal. Wootton looks to flick it towards the target but his effort is saved with ease.

Updated

15 min: Bailey goes for an audacious strike from distance, but it flies over the crossbar.

GOAL DISALLOWED: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Stockport County

Yep, it’s a foul. Sidibeh appeared to accidentally trip Johnston while making the run. The goal does not stand.

Bolton still lead 1-0 in this Wembley final. It’s certainly been a lively start!

12 min: Hold on… there is a VAR review. It’s checking for a potential foul on Johnston from Sidibeh in the build-up to the goal.

GOAL! Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Stockport County (Adama Sidibeh, 11)

Sidibeh runs onto a long ball to equalise for Stockport!

Updated

7 min: Stockport just appeared to give the Bolton players a bit too much time and space there in the build-up to that goal. They cannot afford another lapse of concentration.

4 min: Gale cuts inside from the left and goes for a long-distance strike from distance. Addai gets down to make the stop but parries the ball instead of claiming it. Burstow pounces and squares a pass to Rodrigues in front of the target, who fires his shot home.

What a start!

GOAL! Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Stockport County (Rúben Rodrigues, 3)

What a start for Bolton! Rodrigues breaks the deadlock within three minutes!

Updated

1 min: Stockport break forward early as a low cross is sent into the box from the right. However, it’s cleared by Johnston.

Kick-off

We’re under way at Wembley Stadium!

The teams are out! Kick-off is just a few moments away!

Some match facts for you…

  • Stockport County are bidding to reach the Championship for the first time since the 2001-02 campaign.

  • This is the sixth time that Bolton Wanderers have reached the play-off finals across the Championship and League One.

  • Stockport have won three of their past four games against Bolton.

  • Stockport have won just one of their seven matches at Wembley Stadium, having lost five during that time.

Team news

Bolton starting line-up: Jack Bonham; Jordi Osei-Tutu, Chris Forino, George Johnston, Max Conway; Josh Sheehan, Xavier Simons; Amario Cozier-Duberry, Rúben Rodrigues, Thierry Gale; Mason Burstow.

Subs: Cyrus Christie, Ibrahim Cissoko, Sam Dalby, Kyle Dempsey, Ethan Erhahon, David Harrington, John McAtee.

Stockport starting line-up: Corey Addai; Josh Dacres-Cogley, Kyle Wootton, Ethan Pye, Tayo Edun; Odin Bailey, Oliver Norwood, Ben Osborn; Josh Stokes, Adama Sidibeh, Louie Barry.

Subs: Benoný Breki Andrésson, Callum Connolly, Jack Diamond, Lewis Fiorini, Ben Hinchliffe, Malik Mothersille, Tanto Olaofe.

Updated

Preamble

Hello, good afternoon and welcome to coverage of the League One play-off final. The sun is shining and Wembley is looking absolutely glorious. Bolton Wanderers face Stockport County under the world-famous arch for a place in the Championship this afternoon.

Join us as we guide you through the action.

Kick-off is at 1pm BST – the countdown is on!

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