Bolton 4 – 1 Stockport

Bolton sealed their return to the Championship after seven years with a 4-1 win over Stockport at Wembley.

The Trotters, who had slipped as low as League Two in their time since finishing in the second tier, finally went through the League One play-offs for the third time at the last four years of asking.

Ruben Rodriguez scored their first goal, before Adama Sidibeh’s equalizer for Stockport was disallowed by VAR.

A Kyle Wootton own goal restored Bolton’s lead in the second half, while Sam Dalby added a third and then Rodriguez scored his second from the penalty spot after Josh Dacres-Coughley was sent off in the box by VAR.

Bolton overcame Stockport in the second half to seal promotion

It started a bit at Wembley. Less than three minutes on the clock and Bolton ahead. Rodriguez found the back of the net after Stockport goalkeeper Corey Addai failed to deal with a fairly controlled shot from range.

But Stockport responded well, and thought they had leveled when Sidibeh found the net on 11 minutes. But George Johnston was deemed to have tripped by VAR, and it was ruled out.

Sidibeh, however, was not denied again. He equalized on the half-hour mark with a smart header into the corner from Odin Bailey’s inswinging cross.

Midway through the second half Bolton went ahead and took the lead back. A flash attack saw Cozier-Duberry’s shot deflected into Wootton’s path by Addai and the makeshift centre-back couldn’t get his feet together before steering into the back of his own net.

And the win was sealed late on thanks to Dalby’s acrobatic bicycle kick, followed by a late penalty from Rodriguez, conceded by Dacres-Cogley, who was sent off for pulling Ibrahim Sissoko’s hair.

Schumacher: We deserve it

Bolton boss Steven Schumacher speaking to Sky Sports:

“It was really tough, especially in the first half, the heat and the conditions. I just told the players at half-time, we need to be a bit more intense, with 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 build.

“In the second half, I thought we were great.

“It’s all joy. Being manager of Bolton Wanderers, that kind of pressure is a privilege.

“I knew what I was getting into when I came to this football club. We have worked so hard, been here for 18 months and everyone has come together to get us there.

“It’s exactly what we deserve.”

Key moment: ‘Dolby role changed the game’

In the end it was the options off the bench that made the big difference, and the fact that Steven Schumacher could turn to Dalby to bring on just after the hour mark.

With the game still deadlocked at 1-1, he provided crucial moments for Bolton to turn the game around.

Andy Hinchcliffe on Sky Sports Football:

“The Bolton players take all the glory because they go out and get the job done, but Steven Schumacher was brought to Bolton to promote, to make it happen.

“There was huge pressure. It’s a huge football club and he’s done incredibly well.

“The decision to send on Sam Dalby to go from 1-1 to 3-1 changed the course of the game.

“Credit Dalby for his influence, but credit Schumacher for fitting him at the right time.”

Lincoln boss Michael Skubala on Sky Sports Football:

“I think the timing of it was perfect. The heat was taking it out of the players, but it was a really attacking change and to play two No9s against Ethan Pye and Kyle Wootton, you could see how the game changed.

“It was probably a little too direct, but it was necessary for the game.

“It took the game away from Stockport and there was only going to be one winner from there.”