Bromley manager, Andy Woodman expects a “tough” test against Colchester after the latter’s loss at MK Dons.
Matt Macey’s 39th-minute own-goal saw Colchester suffer a 1-0 loss at Bromley’s nearest title challengers, MK Dons last night (18 March), which saw the Dons move back to within two points of Woodman’s Ravens.
Bromley now will play host to Colchester on Saturday 21 March at the Copperjax Stadium in a 3pm GMT kick-off, and Woodman in his pre-match preview feels that the Us were “unlucky” so expects a serious reaction from them in South London.
“Yeah unlucky certainly not to at least get a point. Um, so we know it’s going to be a tough game. Um, it’s always is against Colchester. It seems to have a little bit of extra spice on it for some reason. I don’t know why, but um yeah, we’re looking forward to them coming to town.”
The 54-year-old boss proceeded to praise Colchester for their quality despite their 13th-placed position in the league table not reflecting their potential.
“Yeah, they’re a good team, culture and you know they got the manager there who knows how to set up the team. So it’ll be a tough game. I mean you know they’re a decent sized club and probably where they’re on the table probably doesn’t represent where they want to be.
“Um so that’ll be a tough game and they were ok the other night at MK Dons. they were unlucky not to get something out of that game.”
Bromley meanwhile scraped a 88th-minute winner at Newport through Corey Whitely’s strike, but Woodman felt that his team lacked their peak gears in a game which had implications at both ends of the table.
“Yeah, it was a tough game. Credit to Newport and we weren’t probably quite at our best. Um, and it became a difficult night for us. Um, and I’m going to say most of these games are going to be difficult now, You know, everyone’s got different agendas, you know, trying to stay in the league, players and teams trying to get into the play-offs.
“So it’s the business end as we all say. Um the plus side is that the team kept going and got their rewards in the end and whether it’s against run of play, whether it should or shouldn’t have been, it’s all irrelevant. It was three points and a really good three points from Newport.”
Woodman however iterated that nobody should be questioning the “character” of his team as he took aim at the growing criticism from oppositional fans about Bromley’s playing style.
“To keep pushing every single week and we’ve seen it happen a number of times this I mean, I don’t think anyone will ever question the character of these boys. And if they do, you know, they’d be crazy to do that.”
There are now eight games left in the season but Bromley’s two home matches in April have been moved to Tuesday 7 and Thursday 16 April respectively for TV, meaning that the clash against Colchester is their penultimate Saturday match of the season.
Woodman consequently has issued a rallying call for fans to pack out the Copperjax Stadium in a massive game as they eye a historic 21st match unbeaten.
“Well, this is our penultimate one. This is our penultimate Saturday game. So we really want everyone to come along because after that, this is the last game of the season, So if you haven’t got your tickets, get along for this one Saturday. We’re going to need you guys to get across the line.
“You know if I lived in Bromley and I saw what Bromley were doing, not just the last four or five years, but right now, I wouldn’t even think twice about coming down and bringing a mate and seeing what’s going on here. Um, so yeah, let’s get this place packed out Saturday and get everyone behind the team again.”
Woodman also added that a sell-out home game benefits the team as he continued: “Massive difference. You know, the atmosphere, the excitement, and then you know when we’re lucky enough to score, you know the actual agitation of the crowd really sort of pushes the boys on. So, yeah, let’s get everyone down here.”
With just eight matches left in the season, it’s easy for teams to feel the pressure but Woodman credited his players for their focus.
“The guys have been the same all along. You know, they’re focused. They kind of know what the new target is. They kind of know where we are at. They know that we’re bang on course for everything I’d set out.
“Um, obviously Project 73 we’ve done that and then there was another one we’ve run alongside it a little while ago, even though people probably think I’m only doing it now. So we’re bang on course and uh we got to make sure we just keep picking up the points and the results to get where we need to get to.
After the clash against Colchester, each of Bromley’s next five matches are on TV which doesn’t faze Woodman who is relishing the prospect of securing promotion live on TV.
“I think TV will capture one of us sort of having some sort of success on one of those games. Um, and let’s hope it’s us. But, um, it’s great, you know, probably in the sort of right part of the table to be getting attracted to these TV matches and that’s what we want.”
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