Bolton sealed their return to the Championship after seven years away as they beat Stockport 4-1 at Wembley.

The Trotters, who had dipped as low as League Two in their time since they were last in the second tier, finally got through the League One play-offs at the third time of asking in the last four years.

Ruben Rodrigues scored their first goal early on, before Adama Sidibeh levelled for Stockport a little while after he had one ruled out by VAR.

Kyle Wootton’s own goal restored Bolton’s lead in the second half, while Sam Dalby added a third and then Rodrigues scored his second from the penalty spot after Josh Dacres-Cogley was sent off for a hair pull in the box, again given by VAR.

Bolton overwhelm Stockport in second half to seal promotion

It was some start at Wembley. Less than three minutes on the clock and Bolton were in front. Rodrigues finding the back of the net after Stockport goalkeeper Corey Addai had failed to deal with a fairly tame shot from range.

But Stockport responded well, and thought they had levelled when Sidibeh raced through and found the net on 11 minutes. But he was deemed to have tripped George Johnston on the way through by VAR, and it was ruled out.

Sidibeh was not to be denied again, however. On the half-hour mark he levelled with a smart header into the corner from Odin Bailey’s inswinging cross.

Bolton rallied and retook the lead midway through the second half. A flash attack saw Cozier-Duberry’s shot palmed by Addai into the path of Wootton, and the makeshift centre-back could not sort his feet out before steering it into the back of his own net.

And the win was sealed late on thanks to Dalby’s acrobatic bicycle kick, and then through Rodrigues’ late penalty, conceded by Dacres-Cogley, who was dismissed for pulling Ibrahim Cissoko’s hair.

Schumacher: It’s exactly what we deserve

Bolton boss Steven Schumacher speaking to Sky Sports:

“It was really difficult, especially in the first half, the heat and the conditions. I just said to the players at half-time, our intensity needs to be a bit higher with the ball and without the ball.

“If we can make a few more passes, tire Stockport out and get into the final third then we’re in a position to create.

“Second half, I thought we were brilliant.

“It’s all joy. Being a manager of Bolton Wanderers, that type of pressure is a privilege.

“I knew what I was getting into when I came to this football club. We’ve worked so hard, been here for 18 months now and everybody has pulled together to get us there.

“It’s exactly what we deserve.”

The key moment: ‘Dalby introduction changed the game’

In the end it was the options off the bench that made the big difference, and the fact Steven Schumacher could turn to Dalby to bring on just after the hour mark.

Introduced with the game still deadlocked at 1-1, he provided crucial moments to turn the game in Bolton’s favour.

Andy Hinchcliffe on Sky Sports Football:

“The Bolton players take all the glory because they go out and get the job done, but Steven Schumacher was brought to Bolton to provide promotion, to make it happen.

“There was huge pressure. This is a giant football club and he has done incredibly well.

“That decision to send on Sam Dalby, to take it from 1-1 to 3-1 changed the course of the game.

“Credit Dalby for his influence, but credit Schumacher for putting him on at just the right time.”

Lincoln boss Michael Skubala on Sky Sports Football:

“I think the timing of it was perfect. The heat was taking it out of the players, but it was a really attacking change and to get two No 9s onto the pitch up against Ethan Pye and Kyle Wootton, you can see how the game shifted.

“It was probably a little bit more direct, but it was what the game required.

“It took the game away from Stockport and, from there, there was only going to be one winner.”

Challinor: We came out flat in second half

Stockport County boss Dave Challinor said: “Half-time came at a bad time. In the second half we looked as flat as a pancake.

“I said at half-time the game was there to kick on and to go and take. But we needed to win individual duels and track runners. We didn’t do either of those things for the second goal and paid the ultimate penalty.”

Challinor was unhappy with both VAR calls. “I don’t think it was a foul,” he said of Sidibeh’s coming together with George Johnston that went in Bolton’s favour.

“If it was Adama running through and he had gone down, would we have been given a free-kick or penalty? I think we all know we wouldn’t.

“The second was a disgraceful decision. How can something be violent conduct when you are not looking at the player? He will probably get a three-game ban now and it’s scandalous.”