League One Promotion Playoffs Semifinals - Will the first-leg advantages prove decisive or irrelevant?
by Thobelani Moyo | by Thobelani Moyo
Stockport County vs. Stevenage: Is the Hatters strong home form enough to overturn a one-goal deficit?
- Date and Time: 13 May 2026, 20:00 (BST)
- Venue: Edgeley Park, Stockport, England.
Stockport County have undeniably moved a step closer to the EFL League One promotion playoffs final following their strong display in the first leg of the semi-finals.
The Hatters were the dominant side in all aspects of the game and deserved the win away from home. It was a tight contest, but they prevailed 1-0 at Lamex Stadium courtesy of Ben Osborn's effort deep into stoppage time.
Head coach Dave Challinor has every reason to be confident, not only because his side holds a narrow advantage but also due to Stockport's impressive home record. Edgeley Park is the venue where they've overwhelmed their opponents, recording ten wins from their last 13 home games (D1, L2).
In the previous season, Stockport lost to Leyton Orient in the play-off semi-finals. Can they finally overcome the hurdle standing between them and the final?
It has been 16 years since Stevenage last joined the English football league, and they are still chasing a first-ever promotion to the EFL Championship.
That dream appears to be fading away after their 1-0 home defeat against Stockport in the first leg play-off semi-final. The Boro now make the 360-mile round trip to Edgeley, aiming to overturn that one-goal deficit in the return leg.
It'll prove a daunting task considering their poor away form. which has seen them win just two of their last 13 away games (D3, L8). However, they did manage to beat Stockport 3-1 in their own backyard this season in the EFL League One, marking their first win against this opponent in four games.
Stevenage's previous four visits to Stockport:
| Date | Competition | Round | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09 April 2011 | EFL League Two | 41 | Stockport 2:2 Stevenage |
| 18 February 2023 | EFL League Two | 33 | Stockport 2:0 Stevenage |
| 01 April 2025 | EFL League One | 40 | Stockport 3:0 Stevenage |
| 13 December 2025 | EFL League One | 20 | Stockport 1:3 Stevenage |
Bradford City vs. Bolton Wanderers: The Bantams have been waiting 105 years for a home win against Bolton!
- Date and Time: 14 May 2026, 20:00 (BST)
- Venue: Valley Parade, Bradford, England.
It might be possible that Bradford's chances of reaching the EFL League One play-off final have been dented - so are their ambitions of a first EFL Championship appearance since the 2003-04 season - after a narrow 1-0 away defeat to Bolton in the first leg of the play-off semi-finals
One can not deny it was a dreadful performance from them as they managed just three attempts at goal. Neither of those shots found the target, highlighting their toothless display in front of goal.
Here’s a stats breakdown of Bradford City vs Bolton in the first leg:
| Bolton Wanderers | Stats | Bradford City |
|---|---|---|
| 0.95 | Expected goals | 0.62 |
| 65% | Ball possession | 35% |
| 12 | Total Shots | 3 |
| 1 | Shots on target | 0 |
| 1 | Big chances | 2 |
| 5 | Corner Kicks | 4 |
| 82% (422/514) | Passes | 59% (155/264) |
| 1 | Yellow cards | 1 |
The Bantams have now won just one of their last six matches as they enter this crucial encounter aiming to overturn a one-goal deficit. Home form does little to inspire confidence that they'll be able to bounce back, having failed to win their last three games. However, the Valley Parade was their fortress in the regular season, averaging 2.17 points per game.
To make matters worse, they have yet to win a game against Bolton at Valley Parade, a run now stretching to six games. Their last win against this opponent was a 4-3 victory in September 1921 in the First Division (a.k.a EFL Championship).
Bolton have one job entering the return leg of the play-off semi-finals: either build on their 1-0 advantage over Bradford City or protect it. However, for a side to reach the play-off final at Wembley, they are unlikely to adopt a defensive approach here.
Youngster Amario Cozier-Duberry was the saviour last time, scoring his 11th goal of the season at the hour mark to give his side a lead heading into this clash. It's now up to Steven Schumacher's men to make use of this advantage or throw it all away.
The Trotters are no pushovers, that's one thing for sure. This is in light of their dominance against Bradford City. They are unbeaten in their last six meetings against this opponent and have won two of their last three matches.
