This year’s final of the Papa John’s Trophy sees Plymouth Argyle and Bolton Wanderers go head-to-head for glory at Wembley. Neither of these teams has won a trophy in over a decade, and this is the closest they’ve come to in recent times.
The EFL Trophy is the 3rd most prestigious knockout competition in English football after the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. Since it is the tournament for the teams from third and fourth divisions of English football, the winner of it doesn’t get any additional access to the events like Europa League or even Conference League.
Bolton Wanderers remains in the promotion race back to the English Championship despite a dip in form in the league. The league title looks unreachable for Bolton at this stage, and Ian Evatt would be hoping his boys would turn up once again in the English Football League Trophy.
Plymouth Argyle made it two consecutive wins in the English League One just before the international break, and they lead at the summit. Steven Schumacher’s team has been one of the best teams in the division, and they would be looking to mark this era with silverware.
| Tournament: | English Football League Trophy 2022/23 Final |
| Venue: | Wembley, London, England |
| Date: | 2 April 2023 |
| Time: | 2:00 p.m. GMT on Sunday |
There isn’t much disparity in the odds allocation in the EFL Final. Bolton Wanderers is slightly priced as the favorite to win at 2.40 (7/5), while Plymouth Argyle is valued at 2.60 (8/5) to win in normal time. The bookies in England are offering the highest value on a draw at 3.20 (11/5).
Many sportsIn-play modeLive streaming25+ sportsSuperb bonusesEasy to useVIP programLive gamesMany bonusesMany bonuses24/7 supportMobile appsLive bettingMany sportsFast payoutsBolton Wanderers beat Accrington Stanley 2-0 to reach the finals in this competition, but they left it late with two quickfire goals from Elias Kachunga and Aaron Morley. Since their penalty win over Tranmere Rovers, the Wanderers have gone on to win their next five games en route to the final in Wembley. Bolton were poor in March, with no wins last month, and they need to step up if they are to win the EFL Trophy.
Plymouth Argyle didn’t have a rosy path to the finals as they had to qualify on penalties against Cheltenham Town, winning 3-2 on spot kicks. Steven Schumacher’s team sits top of the English League One, and they won four out of five matches last month to hit the 80-point mark in the league. With back-to-back wins, Plymouth Argyle would be more confident heading into the final at Wembley.
Plymouth Argyle has an impressive record against Bolton Wanderers, and they are unbeaten in the last five games against the Wanderers. Both teams had to settle for a point in a goalless draw in the English League One earlier this year.
Bolton Wanderers: DLDLW
Plymouth Argyle: WWLWW
Plymouth Argyle is the team on better form in this final, and they would prove to be a tough nut to crack. The Pilgrims are the best team in the English League One, and they have 16 points ahead of Bolton Wanderers in the domestic league. This difference should be decisive when making 2023 EFL Trophy final predictions.
Plymouth Argyle has only lost three matches in 16 competitive games, and two of those defeats were against teams in the top four of the English League One. Steven Schumacher has already coached his team to a win over Bolton Wanderers at the beginning of the season. The Wanderers aren’t in their best form right now, and Plymouth Argyle should get at least a draw against a team that is winless in four games.
The recent encounters between both teams this season have always been low-scoring games due to the approach of both teams. This is a final with both sides would take a more conservative approach, and we should be witnessing another low-scoring encounter. None of the last three meetings between Bolton Wanderers and Plymouth Argyle has seen more than two goals, including two games this season. A bet on this match to end in two goals or less is a value bet on EFL Trophy Final 2023.
Plymouth Argyle has scored in the range of one to two goals in six of their last seven games in all competitions. They aren’t exactly a high-scoring team, but they have a frontline good enough to get the job done. In the league, Plymouth Argyle is averaging 1.67 goals per game, while Bolton Wanderers has a defense good enough to prevent the Pilgrims from scoring more than two goals. Backing Plymouth Argyle to score in the range of one to two goals is a great option available on the best football sportsbooks.
Bolton Wanderers is expected to line up in their customary 3-5-2 formation, with Dion Charles and Victor Adeboyejo more likely to partner up top. Aaron Morley had an injury scare last month, but he is back to full fitness and should feature as a starter against Plymouth Argyle.
Plymouth Argyle welcomes back Dan Scarr and Connor Grant, who have been absent from the squad for some time. Steven Schumacher has used a similar formation to Bolton Wanderers, but his tactics give the Pilgrims a numerical advantage in midfield, and he’s likely to stick to what has worked for him.
Just after the international break, the EFL Trophy comes to an end in April with the final between Bolton Wanderers and Plymouth Argyle. Being valued as the third most important Cup in English football systems, popular teams like Sunderland or Southampton have won it not so long ago. This game has interesting offers, and you can get the best out of this match by using our expert betting tips and predictions.
