Colchester host promotion-chasing Bromley in a massive clash as Sky Bet League Two returns from a near two-week break.
Victory would lift Colchester above Bromley into 11th in the table, whilst Andy Woodman’s Ravens can climb as high as seventh if Crewe Alexandra loses at home to Shrewsbury ahead of the mid-afternoon fixtures.
Team News
Harry Anderson is a doubt for Colchester after he suffered a back injury in their FA Cup loss to MK Dons.
Jack Payne (hamstring), Ben Perry (ACL)
Bromley will welcome Nicke Kabamba back after he missed their controversial FA Cup exit against Bristol Rovers due to an unspecified injury.
Ben Thompson however is sidelined after he suffered a ligament injury against Bristol Rovers, which will keep him out for a couple of weeks after scans confirmed severe bruising and swelling rather than anything further serious.
When is Kick-Off?
Colchester host Bromley at Colchester Community Stadium on Saturday 8 November at 12:30pm BST, live on Sky Sports + Red Button in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Colchester are yet to lose to Bromley in the EFL (W1, D1).
- Bromley drew 1-1 in their only previous EFL visit to Colchester in September 2024.
- Colchester’s Owura Edwards scored in his two appearances against Bromley last season.
- Five of Colchester’s last nine league goals at home were scored by Harry Anderson (W2).
- Bromley have claimed just four points in their last five away league matches (W1, D1, L3).
Prediction
Unbeaten in their last four league matches but with clean sheets still hard to come by, Colchester will hope that Anderson is available after he was influential in their two goals in a dramatic 3-2 FA Cup loss to MK Dons, otherwise this could be quite a tricky game if let that defeat affect their confidence.
Bromley meanwhile were simply wasteful against Bristol Rovers until too late although they were undoubtedly done filthy by referee – Isaac Searle as I couldn’t see a foul or offside in the highlights reel of Omar Sowunmi’s disallowed injury-time equaliser.
Nevertheless the result can’t be changed and if Andy Woodman has instilled the right mentality into his squad then that dirty FA Cup exit could be a blessing, in terms of allowing them to focus primarily on their promotion challenge without distractions with a nice Vertu Trophy run too if possible.
This clash though does feel like it will be tight given how evenly-matched both Colchester and Bromley in terms of draws and goal-related stats, whilst their defensive records aren’t exactly the strongest so this could be cagey or an all-out fun attacking game.
I however do think that the manner of Bromley’s FA Cup exit will motivate them to get the win but this could well be a proper cracker in terms of entertainment.
Prediction: Colchester 1-2 Bromley
Result: Colchester 0-2 Bromley
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