Troy Deeney names who will win L1 play-off final out of Bolton Wanderers and Stockport County | OneFootball

Troy Deeney has provided his verdict on Stockport vs Bolton Wanderers in the League One play-off final at Wembley.

Bolton Wanderers secured their place at Wembley in the play-off final against Stockport after beating Bradford City last night, with pundit Toy Deeney now having his say on who will gain promotion to the Championship.

Stockport County saw off Stevenage with a 2-0 win at Edgeley Park, having already won 1-0 in the away leg. Bolton Wanderers matched their two clean sheets with back-to-back 1-0 victories over Bradford City.

It means Lancashire is well-represented, with Bolton looking to end a seven-year exile from the Championship. Meanwhile, Stockport have not played second tier football since 2002. It's a huge game for both clubs given what is at stake.

On the opening weekend of the season, Bolton lost 2-0 to Stockport at Edgeley Park. Their other fixture was more recent, with the pair playing out a 2-2 draw at the start of April at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

Troy Deeney predicts outcome of League One play-off final

Pundits and neutrals alike will be having their say, including former Watford and Birmingham City striker Troy Deeney. Speaking to CBS Sports, the striker provided his verdict on who he expects to win at Wembley in the League One play-off final.

He said: "You've got [Kyle] Wootton who's a striker playing centre half — and he doesn't look out of place, you've got two ex-Premier League midfielders in there, you've got a wonderkid in Louie Barry out on the left-hand side, you've got young talent, you've got older experience.

"I just think, as a complete collective, Stockport are just better. I think when you watch that game, especially that Bolton game today, you didn't see a team that didn't get opened up at the back as Bradford didn't have chances.

"Bradford were relatively poor in regards to Stockport. Their midfield, though, dominated the ball in terms of keeping it from side to side. And, then, the strikers? They need a lot of chances to score. I just think Stockport have got more than Bradford.

"When you're watching that game, there were still moments where Bradford could have been better with a bit more quality. But now you're talking Louie Barry in those situations; completely different.

"Bolton played a specific way. They're going to be in that same setup. To me — we're not there, there's emotion, all these different things can happen — it just lends itself to Stockport getting promoted, in my opinion."

Why promotion from League One is so important

Deeney may be right or wrong but there is so much riding on the fixture between Stockport and Bolton. Naturally, promotion from League One is hugely important for clubs financially and competitively, but it is also important culturally.

Of course, the jump to the Championship brings significantly greater television revenue, larger sponsorship opportunities, and increased exposure. While also making it easier to attract a higher calibre of player, remaining stuck in League One for too long can quickly become damaging for bigger clubs with large fanbases and expectations.

Beyond the financial side, the Championship is also widely viewed as one of the most entertaining and enjoyable divisions in European football. The league is packed with historic clubs and former Premier League sides. But there are also far more passionate support bases, creating a far stronger matchday atmosphere and far more appealing away days for supporters.

Grounds such as Wolverhampton Wanderers', Derby County's and Middlesbrough's help give the division a much bigger feel than League One, while the competitiveness and unpredictability of the Championship only adds to its appeal as well. It's a step towards the Premier League if either go up, too.