Ivan Klasnic and Sam Allardyce react to Bolton Wanderers reaching L1 play-off final | OneFootball

The Trotters defeated Bradford City in the semi-finals.

Bolton Wanderers are preparing for their second League One play-off final in four years after defeating Bradford City over two legs.

Steven Schumacher's side took a one-goal advantage to Valley Parade, and while the second leg was goalless heading to a tense finale, Xavier Simons' 81st-minute strike secured victory for the Trotters.

Bolton will face Stockport County at Wembley Stadium on 24 May as they strive to expel the demons of their previous defeat to Oxford United in 2024.

Understandably, everybody associated with the club has been reacting to the club's latest achievement, with Ivan Klasnic and Sam Allardyce joining in.

Ivan Klasnic and Sam Allardyce praise Bolton Wanderers' achievement

While Bolton supporters will not want to get too carried away, they can breathe a sigh of relief with the play-off job half done.

The Trotters finished the season just two points and one position below Bradford, and while the two sides could not be separated in either of their regular campaign clashes, it was Schumacher's side who edged out a tense double-header.

Two men who were part of the club's glory days in the Premier League are Klasnic and Allardyce, who clearly still have a strong affinity with their former employer.

Klasnic played for Bolton in the Premier League from 2009 to 2012 and was their top scorer in his final season with the club when they were relegated to the Championship, yet to return to the top flight.

As for Allardyce, it is needless to say that he is an icon from the Trotters' time at the top table, having managed the club for eight years and led them to Europe on two occasions.

Now, the pair have both reacted to Bolton's triumph by leaving comments on the club's Instagram post, which reads 'We're going to Wembley,' underneath a collage of the players and manager.

Klasnic said, "Well done boys," while Alardyce posted three applause emojis.

Does Bolton have what it takes to defeat Stockport County?

While beating Bradford twice will give Bolton a major confidence boost, Stockport present an entirely different challenge to Schumacher and his players.

The final standings in the third tier were incredibly tight, with just two points separating third from sixth, but it was the Hatters who finished as the highest with 77 points, finishing above the Bantams on goal difference.

Schumacher's side are yet to defeat Stockport this season, having lost to them 2-0 on the opening day, while they played out a 2-2 draw at the start of April.

Bolton must be wary of County's main goal threat, Kyle Wootton, who has found the back of the net 20 times in the league this season, including the winner against Stevenage Borough in the second leg.

However, their biggest obstacle may come in the form of manager Challinor, who has finished in a play-off spot or higher every year bar one in his 16 seasons with four clubs, an achievement that is quite frankly astonishing.

Clearly, he has instilled a mindset into his side that makes them incredibly tough opponents, with talisman Ollie Norwood an obvious talent who needs stopping.

However, while Schumacher will be well aware of the obstacle in their way, they must focus on their own strengths, with on-loan star Amario Cozier-Duberry capable of winning a game single-handedly.

Although Bolton is the bigger club with the more impressive history, they will enter the final as slight underdogs, which is a tag they must channel if they are to earn promotion to the Championship.