Stockport boss Dave Challinor’s speaks on early play-off final

Dave Challinor reckons Stockport County’s experience at Wembley this season will help when they return for the play-off final.

The Hatters were beaten 3-1 by Luton Town in the Vertu Trophy final last month, missing a chance to claim silverware.

Next weekend, they will be back at the historic venue to face Wanderers for a place in the Championship next season.

Speaking ahead of Bolton’s second leg at Valley Parade, Challinor said: “I’m not fussed (who goes through).

“You can look at if there are connections between the clubs. We’ve beaten Bolton here on the first game of the season and drew away from home. We have done well against them over the recent past.”

He added: “It’s on the day. I said coming into this competition, any of the four teams can win. It’s what you produce on the night.

“We’ve produced tonight and got ourselves to a final. We’re going to have to produce again in an emotional, high-pressure situation.

“We’ve been there previously this year, that will help us undoubtedly. Hopefully, we can get a better result than we did against Luton in the Vertu Trophy.”

Stockport recorded an emphatic 3-0 victory on aggregate against Stevenage to reach the final, and Challinor was delighted with his players.

“A brilliant start to the game for us in that first half. I spoke to some of the staff, I remember back to a semi-final when I was playing (for Tranmere) and we played Bolton in the League Cup,” he recalled.

“Clint (Hill) scored the goal away from home and gave us a 1-0 lead, and we scored two goals early that night and put ourselves 3-0 up.

“Probably for the first time in a long time in a football match, we were able to enjoy that last bit. I didn’t enjoy it so much watching because I think second half, we sort of sat back a little bit.

“I get from the players’ perspective what that can look like, and a goal can send shivers and nerves through a stadium.

“But massive credit to the players. To perform at the level they did and produce the quality they did, especially in the first half, to take us to a play-off final, massive credit to them.”