Sam Allardyce issues Bolton Wanderers message ahead of Stockport County play-off final | OneFootball

Sam Allardyce has wished Bolton Wanderers good luck ahead of their League One play-off final clash with Stockport County

Sam Allardyce has delivered a message to his former club, Bolton Wanderers, ahead of Sunday's League One play-off final clash with fellow Greater Manchester side Stockport County.

Wanderers advanced to Wembley via their semi-final victory over Bradford City, earning a 2-0 win on aggregate by beating the Bantams 1-0 both home and away.

Stockport reached the play-off final slightly more comprehensively, defeating Stevenage 3-0 on aggregate, with Louie Barry and Kyle Wootton scoring in the second leg at Edgeley Park.

Bolton are vying to return to the Championship for the first time since suffering relegation from the second tier in 2019, but a resurgent County outfit are battling for a third promotion in five seasons.

Sam Allardyce issues positive Bolton Wanderers statement ahead of Stockport County clash

Allardyce has retained a strong affinity with Wanderers, having started his professional playing career with the Greater Manchester side before managing them from 1999 until 2007.

The 71-year-old oversaw some of Bolton's greatest feats in modern times, such as leading them to the 2004 EFL Cup final, where they were beaten by Middlesbrough.

Wanderers are now vying for promotion back to the Championship, and Allardyce has revealed how much his former club still means to him via Instagram.

Posting on the social media platform on Monday, the former West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion boss wrote: "Congratulations to the club I love, Bolton Wanderers, on reaching the playoff final at Wembley.

"Good luck."

The Greater Manchester outfit have already bettered last season's efforts this term, as they finished eighth in League One last campaign.

Bolton are now vying for a better play-off final outcome than the one they suffered in 2024, when they were beaten 2-0 by Oxford United, thanks to Josh Murphy's brace.

Oxford went on to spend two seasons in the Championship, but were relegated at the end of this term, finishing four points adrift of West Brom, even though the Baggies were deducted two points for breaching financial regulations.

Stockport may hold psychological advantage over Bolton ahead of League One play-off final

Stockport finished just two points and two places above Bolton, showing that there has been very little to split between the Greater Manchester rivals in the regular season this term.

Furthermore, County and Wanderers both managed to win each of their play-off semi-final legs without conceding a goal, bolstering their respective confidence.

However, the head-to-head record between Stockport and Bolton this season favours Dave Challinor's men over Steven Schumacher's side.

The Hatters enjoyed a 2-0 triumph over Wanderers at Edgeley Park in August, thanks to goals from Malik Mothersille and club top scorer Wootton, who has operated as a defender in recent weeks.

Challinor's men then held Schumacher's side to a 2-2 draw at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Easter Monday, in a match that saw Barry sent off in the closing stages.

There will be extra pressure on both Stockport and Bolton when they face each other at Wembley for a place in next season's Championship, but the campaign's evidence suggests that County may have the upper hand.