Sunday sees Wembley host a North West shoot-out for a place in the Championship next season as Bolton Wanderers take on Stockport County. Whatever your views on the play-off system, you can’t deny that it generates excitement, and this year there is little to choose between the two sides. Stockport finished the season in third place, well adrift of the automatic promotion and only two points clear of fifth-placed Bolton. In fact, after the marathon 46-game League One season, only two points separated the four clubs to contest the play-offs. I’m anticipating a tight, tense encounter, and I’ve squeezed out some value with a tasty 2/1 bet builder.
TL; DR – League One Play-Off Final Bet Builder Tips
| Market | Odds at BetMGM | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Stockport to Go Through | 17/20 | 0.5 |
| Under 3.5 Goals | 4/11 | 1 |
| Over 7.5 Corners | 1/4 | 1 |
| Bet Builder | 2/1 | 1 |
Odds correct at 12:00 BST on 18th May 2026. Odds subject to change.
No Expiry Date
It has been a keenly contested campaign at the top of League One. The second half of the season saw champions Lincoln City and runners-up Cardiff City run away with the automatic spots. Just below them, there was a battle royal for the play-off places, with only four points separating third from eighth. With so little to choose between Stockport and Bolton over the season, it looks set to be an intriguing match. As well as Kickform stats, I looked at previous League One play-off finals as part of my research. BetMGM, one of the best bookmakers in the UK, offered a great combination of available markets and competitive odds, so I have placed my wager with them.
Stockport to Go Through
Stockport finished the regular season with a little more momentum than Bolton. Stockport won three from six with two defeats, while the Trotters won one and lost two in their last six. Both sides impressed in their semi-final. County beat Stevenage 3-0 on aggregate, while Bolton beat Bradford City 2-0 over the two legs. The two sides drew 2-2 at the Toughside Community Stadium in March, with Stockport running out 2-0 winners back in August.
Kickform give the Hatters a 43% chance of winning in 90 minutes plus stoppage time. I am not confident enough to back Stockport to win in normal time, but I think that they will do enough to be the team who progress to the Championship. Boss Dave Challinor is a promotion specialist who knows the play-offs inside out. In sixteen seasons as a manager, he has been promoted seven times and reached the play-offs 11 times, winning three finals.
Circumstance means County have additional firepower on the pitch. Kyle Wootton was among the contenders for the League One Golden Boot. A defensive injury crisis means that he has moved into central defence. Wootton has grown into that position, with County looking solid at the back in the two matches against Stevenage. He is a massive goalscoring threat from set-pieces, and it means that Stockport have an extra player with a goalscorer’s instinct on the park, which could prove invaluable.
Under 3.5 Goals
History suggests that there will not be a huge number of goals in this one. The last nine League One play-off finals have seen three goals or fewer. Looking at the last four, two ended 2-0, and two ended 1-0. The play-off semifinals saw both sides keep two clean sheets, with Stockport’s 2-0 home win over Stevenage the only match of the four that didn’t finish 1-0. The stats from Kickform show that 77% of Stockport’s league matches and 75% of Bolton’s featured under 3.5 goals. Kickform give a 52% chance of there being fewer than three goals, and again, I’m erring on the side of caution by backing under 3.5 goals.
Over 7.5 Corners
The corner count prevented my FA Cup Final bet builder from landing on Saturday, pitching up one short. However, the stats indicate a decent number of flag kicks in this one. Stockport have won an average of 5.33 corners per game, while Bolton have been awarded a League One high of 6.29 corners per match. In the semi-finals, all four matches saw nine or more corners. After my cup final letdown, I am again being conservative by backing over 7.5 corners rather than going higher. 75% of Stockport’s matches and 79% of Bolton’s have had at least eight corners. So, I am going for this to complete my treble.
My 2/1 Bet Builder is Live
My League One bet builder is live with BetMGM. Best of luck if you’re backing any of these as singles or if you fancy going for the bet builder. Remember, betting is supposed to be fun. Always gamble responsibly.
League One Play-Off Final Odds
Check out the latest League One odds from the best football bookies in the UK.
