Bolton 4 – 1 Stockport

Bolton sealed their return to the Championship after seven years away as they beat Stockport 4-1 at Wembley.

The Trotters, who had dipped as low as League Two in their time since they were last in the second tier, finally got through the League One play-offs at the third time of asking in the last four years.

Ruben Rodrigues scored their first goal early on, before Adama Sidibeh levelled for Stockport a little while after he had one ruled out by VAR.

Kyle Wootton’s own goal restored Bolton’s lead in the second half, while Sam Dalby added a third and then Rodrigues scored his second from the penalty spot after Josh Dacres-Cogley was sent off for a hair pull in the box, again given by VAR.

Bolton overwhelm Stockport in second half to seal promotion

It was some start at Wembley. Less than three minutes on the clock and Bolton were in front. Rodrigues finding the back of the net after Stockport goalkeeper Corey Addai had failed to deal with a fairly tame shot from range.

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

Sidibeh was not to be denied again, however. On the half-hour mark he levelled with a smart header into the corner from Odin Bailey’s inswinging cross.

Bolton rallied and retook the lead midway through the second half. A flash attack saw Cozier-Duberry’s shot palmed by Addai into the path of Wootton, and the makeshift centre-back could not sort his feet out before steering it into the back of his own net.

And the win was sealed late on thanks to Dalby’s acrobatic bicycle kick, and then through Rodrigues’ late penalty, conceded by Dacres-Cogley, who was dismissed for pulling Ibrahim Cissoko’s hair.