Stockport vs Bolton prediction and bet builder – Hatters heading for promotion?

May 20, 2026 - 15:45
Stockport vs Bolton prediction and bet builder – Hatters heading for promotion?

A Manchester derby takes place in the League One play-off final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon with Stockport and Bolton going head to head for promotion to next season’s Championship.

Stockport vs Bolton best bets

Stockport vs Bolton head to head overview

  • Date: Sunday 24th May 2026
  • Kick-off: 1pm
  • Venue: Wembley Stadium, London, UK
  • How to watch: Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Ultra HDR
  • Referee: TBA
  • Last meeting: Bolton 2-2 Stockport (Apr 2026, League One)
  • Last 10 matches: Stockport – 5 wins; Bolton – 2 wins; Draws – 3
  • Favourite to win: Both priced at 29/20 with Sky Bet

Stockport vs Bolton predicted lineups

Stockport (4-3-3): Addai (GK); Dacres-Cogley, Wootton, Pye, Edun; Osborn, Norwood, Bailey; Stokes, Sidibeh, Barry

Bolton (4-2-3-1): Bonham (GK); Osei-Tutu, Toal, Forino, Johnston; Erhahon, Sheehan; Cozier-Duberry, Rodrigues, Cissoko; Burstow

Stockport vs Bolton prediction

There is nothing to separate the two sides in the odds for Sunday’s League One play-off final, with both teams locked in on 29/20 at the time of writing.

Stockport make the trip to the capital as the higher seeds following their third place finish in League One, which was followed up by a 3-0 aggregate victory over Stevenage in the semi final of the play-offs, to book their trip to Wembley for the second time this season.

A 94th minute winner from Ben Osborn in the away first leg was followed up by first half goals in the home leg by Louie Barry and Kyle Wootton, to propel Dave Challinor’s side to the League One play-off final.

The Hatters were playing in the sixth tier in the National League North in 2019, and on Sunday will find themselves just 90 minutes away from a first season in the second tier since their relegation in 2002.

The Manchester side travel to Wembley in strong form having won four of their last five matches, as they look to make it second time lucky in the play offs after falling at the semi final stage last season, losing on penalties to Leyton Orient.

As alluded to earlier, this will be Challinor’s side’s second visit to Wembley this season after having also reached the final of the EFL Trophy this year, but will be looking for a better result after losing 3-1 to Luton last month.

Bolton headed into their play-off campaign having one only one of their last six matches of the season, but managed to beat a Bradford side, who finished two points above them, home and away in the play off semi finals to book their place at Wembley.

Amario Cozier-Duberry, on loan from Brighton, scored the only goal of the game in the home first leg, before Xavi Simons (not that one) made sure of Bolton’s trip to Wembley, scoring the only goal of the second leg with less than 10 minutes remaining.

Whereas their opponents are only in their second season in the third tier, Bolton have been battling to get out of League One since their promotion to it in 2021, and have the chance to right the wrongs of 2024 when they were defeated 2-0 by Oxford in the play-off final.

The Trotters are just a win away from their first season in the Championship since their relegation in 2019.

Challinor boasts the better of the head to head matches between him and Bolton manager Steven Schumacher, with two wins to nil from their three matches, while Stockport have won three of their last four matches against Sunday’s opposition.

The most recent meeting ended in a 2-2 draw at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Easter Monday, in which the Trotters scored a late equaliser.

There’s nothing to separate the two teams in the odds which shows just how even the clash is expected to be on Sunday, though Stockport’s better form and league finish heading into the play offs should make them marginal favourites, perhaps a 2-1 Hatters win the most likely scoreline.

Stockport vs Bolton betting tips

Hatters on top

Stockport have won four of their last five matches ahead of their trip to Wembley, including each of their last three, while Bolton headed into the play offs having won only on of their last six regular season matches.

The Hatters have a strong recent record against the Trotters, winning three of their last four meetings, only drawing the most recent fixture between the two due to a late own goal.

Wonderful Wootton

Only Leyton Orient’s Dom Ballard has scored more goals in League One this season than Stockport striker Kyle Wootton, who reached 20 for the campaign in all competitions with his goal in last week’s play-off semi final second leg victory over Stevenage to send his side to Wembley.

The 29-year-old has already scored against Bolton this season too, doing so way back on the opening day of the campaign in a 2-0 victory.

Stockport vs Bolton latest odds

Find the latest Stockport vs Bolton betting odds here, odds courtesy of Sky Bet and are subject to change.

  • Stockport – 29/20
  • Draw – 9/4
  • Bolton – 29/20

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