Stockport County have a one-goal lead to defend when they welcome Stevenage to Edgeley Park for Wednesday’s second leg.
Stockport have won ten of their last 13 home assignments in all competitions.
Bolton are unbeaten in three previous meetings with Bradford this season, winning twice.
It’s crunch time in the 2025/26 League One playoff semifinals and with both ties finely balanced, supporters are braced for some intense second-leg action in midweek.
First up, on Wednesday, 13th May, attention turns to Edgeley Park, where Dave Challinor’s Stockport County hold a slender one-goal advantage over Stevenage, having stolen a late victory over Borough in Saturday’s opening salvo.
A day later, on Thursday, 14th May, Bradford will be aiming to claw back a one-goal deficit against Bolton, having slipped to defeat against Wanderers in another game of few chances.
Below, we preview both first legs and offer a score prediction for the games, along with some other tips for each game from standout markets at LiveScoreBet.
Stockport County vs Stevenage Borough (Tuesday, 8 pm)
The latest Stockport vs Stevenage odds are available on LiveScoreBet
The semi-final first leg between Stevenage and Stockport at the Lamex Stadium was drifting towards stalemate on Saturday before a calamitous defensive mix-up by Borough allowed Ben Osborn to poke home a winner for County in the 94th minute.
Tension played a part, though Saturday’s contest was low on quality, with Stevenage and Stockport mustering just two shots on target each.
In the post-match scrum, Borough boss Alex Revell claimed that “the goal but it doesn't really change anything”, however, Stevenage’s failure to make home advantage count leaves them with an uphill task at Edgeley Park on Tuesday evening.
Stevenage have struggled on the road this year, winning only two of their last 13 away matches since Boxing Day, while failing to score more than once on any of the same occasions.
Even with centre-halves missing, Stockport were able to keep goal-shy Borough at arm’s length in Saturday’s first leg, with stand-in defender Kyle Wooten influential, winning 11 aerial duels and completing 15 clearances.
County, who have won ten of their last 13 home games in all competitions, also dominated the possession stats (60.6%) at the weekend, and they should be able to control proceedings in similar style on Wednesday. Another low-scoring Stockport victory looks like the best avenue to explore in the markets here.
Score prediction: Stockport County 1-0 Stevenage Borough
Other Stockport County vs Stevenage Borough Betting Tips:
Under 2.5 goals – 8/11
Stevenage were short on ideas in the final third in Saturday’s first leg, though that wouldn’t have surprised their followers, who have watched Borough net one or fewer goals in 13 of their last 14 fixtures. 11 of those matches produced under 2.5 goals, including Saturday’s contest, and the same market offers value again on Wednesday.
Stockport to win the most corners – 11/20
Stockport controlled more than two-thirds of the possession (60.6%) against Stevenage on Saturday and their territorial dominance allowed them to win 10 corners to Borough’s four. That was the third time in as many meetings this season where County won the corner battle against Stevenage and they are backed to do the same in midweek.
Bradford City vs Bolton Wanderers (Thursday, 8 pm)
The latest Bradford City vs Bolton Wanderers odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Both Bolton and Bradford seemed overwhelmed by tension in Saturday’s first leg and creativity was stifled for much of the contest as a result, however, a moment of inspiration from Wanderers winger Amario Cozier-Duberry on the hour mark was enough to separate the teams.
The Brighton loanee, who had already chipped in with 18 goal involvements (8G, 10A) during the regular League One campaign, finished brilliantly from the game’s only shot on target to earn Bolton a slim advantage ahead of Thursday’s second leg.
To book their place in the final, Bolton must avoid defeat at Valley Parade, just as they did on April 25th, when they held Bradford to a 1-1 draw. Their goal-scorer that day, Johnny Kenny, will be absent through injury this time around, however, Bolton have the quality to cope in his absence.
Bradford never got going as an attacking force on Saturday and failed to register a single shot on target in a game for the first time this season. Injured leading marksman Bobby Pointon was a big miss in the first leg, though the attacker is pushing hard to be involved on Thursday.
However, the momentum is still with Bolton here. They are unbeaten in three previous meetings with Bradford this term and in Cozier-Duberry, they have a player with match-winning potential.
Bolton looked like the classier outfit when they drew at Bradford a couple of weeks ago (1-1) and they were unfortunate not to collect three points on that occasion, having rattled the woodwork and registered twice as many shots on target as City.
Steven Schumacher’s side are in the driving seat and they can avoid defeat again to clinch a playoff final berth.
Score prediction: Bradford City 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
Other Bradford City vs Bolton Wanderers Betting Tips:
Bolton double chance – 4/7
Bolton haven’t lost in three previous meetings with Bradford and they were much the better team when they visited Valley Parade on April 25th. Wanderers also managed to avoid defeat in nine of their final 11 away assignments of the regular League One campaign and they are fancied to do the same here.
Amario Cozier-Duberry to score or assist – 9/5
Talented flanksman, Amario Cozier-Duberry, delivered in this market when we backed him before the first leg and the Brighton loanee looks overpriced to provide another telling moment on Thursday. The 20-year-old scored and hit the woodwork against Bradford on Saturday and he also cracked a shot off the post against City at Valley Park last month.
