The first game of the football season is an intriguing one: Stockport County will meet Bolton Wanderers at Edgeley Park on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at 11:00 GMT. Bell E. will be the referee for this League One Round 1 encounter, which will be a tough clash between two local rivals at the 10,841-seat stadium. Both teams want to finish in the top six.
Both teams want to start… Dave Challinor is in charge of Stockport, and they want to use their good home form to their advantage. Steven Schumacher is in charge of Bolton, and they want to get over their uneven end to the 2024-25 season.
Betting Tips and Match Insights
This section sets the stage for understanding the dynamics of the Stockport County vs Bolton Wanderers prediction today. We may get an idea of how this match might go by looking at how the teams have done lately, their head-to-head records, and the contributions of key players. Stockport’s strong home record and Bolton’s major changes to their team are important to know. When these rivals have fought in the past, there have often been goals and drama. Let’s look at the facts to find out what to expect.
Stockport County Results
Stockport County, under by Dave Challinor, has bounced back after last season’s heartbreaking playoff loss. They finished third in 2024–25, which showed how good they were at attacking. Only champions Birmingham City scored more goals. They are a strong team at Edgeley Park because of how well they have been playing lately, especially at home.
| Date | Competition | Matchup | Result | Outcome |
| 26/07/25 | CF | Stockport County vs Hull | 0-1 | L |
| 25/07/25 | CF | Salford vs Stockport County | 1-1 | D |
| 12/07/25 | CF | Stockport County vs Bristol Rovers | 3-2 | W |
| 14/05/25 | LO | Stockport County vs Leyton Orient | 1-1 (pen. 1-4) | D/L |
| 10/05/25 | LO | Leyton Orient vs Stockport County | 2-2 | D |
Stockport’s recent results are a mix. They had a solid home win over Bristol Rovers, but they lost at Hull in the preseason. Their loss to Leyton Orient in the playoffs, which was decided by penalties, shows that they can compete but are also weak when it matters most. The tie at Salford shows that they can compete with tough teams. Their home form, which included an 11-game unbeaten streak last season, shows that they are confident at Edgeley Park. New players like Malik Mothersille could help them score more goals.
Bolton Wanderers Results
Steven Schumacher is now in charge of Bolton Wanderers. They had a good preseason but a bad end to the 2024-25 season. Their eighth-place performance last season wasn’t what they were hoping for, so they had to make changes to the team. The Trotters want to show that their new lineup can compete for promotion.
| Date | Competition | Matchup | Result | Outcome |
| 26/07/25 | CF | Bolton vs Preston | 2-0 | W |
| 22/07/25 | CF | Shrewsbury vs Bolton | 2-5 | W |
| 19/07/25 | CF | Hibernian vs Bolton | 0-2 | W |
| 15/07/25 | CF | Barrow vs Bolton | 0-1 | W |
| 11/07/25 | CF | Bolton vs Orlando Pirates | 2-0 | W |
Bolton’s pre-season form is perfect, with five straight wins, including decisive winners over Preston and Shrewsbury. This shows that Schumacher’s new tactical style, which is probably a 4-2-3-1, is working well with the team. But their late-season collapse last year, when they only got two points from six games, makes many worry about how consistent they are. The departure of important players like Ricardo Santos could make their defense less stable. Edgeley Park will test their ability to keep up their pre-season enthusiasm.
Stockport County vs Bolton Wanderers Head-to-Head
In recent years, the rivalry between Stockport County and Bolton Wanderers has led to some great games. Stockport has won most of their recent meetings, especially at home. Here is a look at their last five matches against each other.
| Date | Competition | Matchup | Result |
| 15/03/25 | LO | Bolton vs Stockport County | 0-1 |
| 09/11/24 | LO | Stockport County vs Bolton | 5-0 |
| 14/11/23 | TRO | Stockport County vs Bolton | 0-2 |
| 05/07/22 | CF | Stockport County vs Bolton | 2-2 |
| 17/11/21 | FAC | Stockport County vs Bolton | 5-3 (3-3) |
Stockport has been in charge of recent games, especially at home. For example, they beat Bolton 5-0 in November 2024. Their 1-0 triumph against Bolton in March 2025 shows even more how much better they are in this match. Bolton only won one of their last five meetings, which was the 2023 EFL Trophy. The fact that both games had a lot of goals means that both teams played attacking football. Stockport’s home field advantage could be important again.
Predicted Lineups for the Football Match
This part talks about the likely starting lineups for Stockport County and Bolton Wanderers, based on new acquisitions, formations, and who is available to play. These choices show how managers Dave Challinor and Steven Schumacher plan to play.
Stockport County Predicted Lineup (3-1-4-2): Addai (GK), Connolly (DF), Hoskonen (DF), Pye (DF), Norwood (DM), Fevrier (MF), Bate (MF), Moxon (MF), Diamond (MF), Wootton (FW), Andresson (FW)
Bolton Wanderers Predicted Lineup (3-4-1-2): Sharman-Lowe (GK), Toal (DF), Taylor (DF), Johnston (DF), Schon (MF), Morley (MF), Erhahon (MF), Inwood (MF), Randall (MF), McAtee (FW), Burstow (FW)
Unavailable Players
Injuries and players who aren’t playing can have a big effect on how well a team plays. Based on the most recent team news, below is a list of players that won’t be able to play in the match. This information is very important for figuring out what each team’s possible weaknesses are.
| Team | Player | Reason |
| Stockport County | J. Olowu | Inactive |
| Stockport County | N. Powell | Injury (Questionable) |
| Bolton Wanderers | D. N’Lundulu | Inactive |
| Bolton Wanderers | S. Dalby | Hamstring Injury |
Key Factors to Watch
Several important things need to be taken into account in order to produce an accurate prediction for Stockport County vs. Bolton Wanderers today. Both teams have made changes in the off-season that will affect their chances, such as new players and changes in management. Here are the important aspects that could impact the outcome of this football match:
- Stockport’s Home Record: Stockport is a tough team to beat at home because they went 11 games without losing at Edgeley Park last season;
- Bolton’s Winning Streak Before the Season: Five straight wins in the preseason show that they were well prepared, but their collapse at the end of the season makes people wonder;
- Malik Mothersille’s ability to score goals and Arttu Hoskonen’s ability to defend well might change the game for Stockport;
- Bolton’s squad overhaul: Players who left, like Ricardo Santos, and players who joined, like Teddy Sharman-Lowe, could make it hard for the team to work together at the start of the season;
- Injury Worries: Sam Dalby from Bolton is definitely out, while Nick Powell from Stockport is iffy. This could change the team’s attacking possibilities;
- Tactical Matchup: If Stockport’s wing-backs control the flanks, their 3-1-4-2 formation could take advantage of Bolton’s new 3-4-1-2;
- Referee Influence: Bell E.’s style of officiating, especially when it comes to cards and penalties, could change the outcome of a close match;
- Rivalry Intensity: Because this is a local derby, the games are generally quite exciting and high-scoring.
Free Tips on Stockport County vs Bolton Wanderers
This part gives useful betting tips for the Stockport County vs. Bolton Wanderers game based on current performances and historical statistics. These guidelines look at things that aren’t mentioned in the essential factors to make sure the strategy is complete. Use these tips to help you make betting decisions:
- Check the conditions of the pitch at Edgeley Park: The condition of the field might affect how the game is played. A well-kept surface will help Stockport’s offensive style, while a worn pitch could throw off their rhythm and help Bolton’s counter-attacking style.
- Keep an eye on the weather: August weather in Stockport is usually pleasant, but rain could slow the game down, which could help Bolton’s more robust 3-4-1-2 style over Stockport’s slick passing game.
- Check Player Form: Malik Mothersille of Stockport scored 16 goals last season, so he is in great scoring form and is sure to score, especially at home.
- Think about how fans can affect the game: Edgeley Park’s passionate home crowd could be like a “12th man,” making Stockport play harder and putting pressure on Bolton’s younger players, such Amario Cozier-Duberry.
- Check for Fixture Congestion: Both teams are fresh because it’s the start of the season, but Bolton’s recent travel before the season could make them tired sooner than Stockport’s more stable preparation.
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Stockport County vs Bolton Wanderers Prediction 2025
The Stockport County vs Bolton Wanderers odds reflect a closely contested match, with Stockport’s home advantage giving them a slight edge. Stockport has a great home record, including an 11-game unbeaten streak last season. They are likely to take advantage of their familiarity with Edgeley Park. Their recent 5-0 win over Bolton in November 2024 shows how much better they are at this game, especially at home. Malik Mothersille and Arttu Hoskonen are two new players who make their offense and defense stronger. This fixes some of the problems they had in their playoff loss to Leyton Orient. Stockport’s setup seems even better now that Dave Challinor has extended his contract and kept his tactics consistent.
Bolton has looked good in the preseason under Steven Schumacher, winning all five of their friendlies, including a 5-2 rout of Shrewsbury. But their late-season collapse in 2024–25, when they only got two points from six games, shows that they might not be as strong as they seem. They don’t have as many good players as they used to because Ricardo Santos and Sam Dalby are hurt. Their new 3-4-1-2 formation is flexible, but it might have a hard time against Stockport’s tight 3-1-4-2, especially if their wing-backs use the flanks. The vociferous crowd at Edgeley Park might make things much harder for Bolton’s younger players. Bolton’s pre-season form shows that they can score, but Stockport’s home field advantage and history in this match give them the edge. We think Stockport will win by a tight margin, probably by one goal. Both clubs like to attack, so they might both score.
Our Prediction: Stockport County 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
| Prediction Type | Prediction | Odds |
| Match Result | Stockport County to Win | 1.9 |
| Both Teams to Score | Yes | 1.7 |
| Total Goals | Over 2.5 | 1.84 |
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