Fourth-placed Peterborough United host third-placed Bolton Wanderers on the final day of the season in what could well be this season’s Play-Off Final.
There is technically still something on the line for both, Bolton Wanderers could achieve automatic promotion, but would need Derby County to slip up against Carlisle United and would also need a rather significant swing in goal difference. As for Peterborough, they could go into third if able to win by four or more goals, however, it’s an unknown what sort of side Darren Ferguson will put out.
Posh would be defeated by Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night and there was some controversy with the team selection, with Ferguson ommiting several first-team players from the starting lineup. Given they cannot drop any further with a loss, we may well see another weakened lineup.
Bolton will want to play on the offensive given that they still have a chance of automatic promotion if Derby do indeed slip up but that looks rather unlikely. As a result, we may well see some of the Trotters’ first team players rested with the play-offs in mind, although that could seem as if they were waving the proverbial white flag.
Nothing could separate the two sides when they met earlier in the season with a 1-1 draw being played out at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. That result could well be repeated depending on how the two sides set-up.
With that in mind, here’s how two of The Real EFL’s writing team see the game panning out…
“As exciting as this game could potentially be, we may well see both teams put weakened line-ups out. The fact that Peterborough massively rotated on Tuesday night emphasises the fact that they’re not too fussed about moving into third.
“Bolton should still put out a fairly strong line-up given they have a chance of automatic promotion but they would need Derby to get beaten heavily by Carlisle and also to put a couple past Peterborough. This game does have potential for final day drama but that all hedges on the lineups which the two sides put out.
“As a result, this may actually be quite a boring game despite the positions of the two teams in the league. I don’t see anything changing in the table as a result of this game and a draw looks the likeliest option.”
Peterborough United 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
“Casting an eye over the final fixtures of the regular League One season, it feels like there should be more riding on this.
“Bolton could still pip Derby to that automatic promotion if they romp home to a victory over Posh, with Darren Ferguson’s men all but giving up on that hunt themselves with a much changed eleven at Cheltenham Town mid-week.
“Still, backed by a big home crowd for the final league fixture before the play-offs commence, they’ll want to bounce back from a flat performance at the Robins. I’d expect a high-scoring game here, in what could be a possible dress rehearsal for a final to come at Wembley.”
Peterborough United 2-2 Bolton Wanderers
Senior Editor
