Andy Woodman has warned Bromley fans “not to get carried away” after a positive 1-1 pre-season friendly draw against Millwall.
Ethon Archer fired the Ravens into a half-time lead before Mathis Servais rescued Millwall an eventual draw with his 56th-minute equaliser.
Woodman post-match spoke to Bromley’s YouTube channel in which he praised Millwall for fielding a strong first team and providing a tough challenge, which gave him and his players plenty of positives to build on ahead of the new season.
“I think uh it was a good test for both teams actually. I thought Millwall brought a really strong team and we thank them for that, you know. And I thought the tempo of the game and the quality of the game was really good.
“Um I thought there were some good moments, particularly for us, you know against a tough defence and a very good Millwall team. So, um real positives.”
Woodman however iterated that nobody should be getting swept up in any notion of a strong maiden season in League One, but feels that the signs are there of a solid team to fight for their third-tier status.
“Yeah, I think it’s important not to get carried away because the real stuff starts in a few weeks, but I think the signs are there of a Bromley team and that’s what I’m really more chuffed about. I was disappointed we didn’t get a clean sheet tonight, although the ref kindly apologised that he missed a decision, which was nice.
“But you know, like I said, the resilience was there, the goalkeeper’s making good saves, the defenders making good blocks. And uh at the other end of the pitch, we’re creating one or two chances and looking powerful all over the place. So there’s a lot of positives there for me at the moment and I just don’t want to get too carried away too early.”
Bromley however suffered a double injury blow late in both halves as Deon Woodman and his substitute replacement, Richard Taylor both suffered injuries, but the gaffer offered contrasting updates on the conditions of both defenders.
“Uh Deon’s got a little uh a little hammy. Uh, so, we’re not sure how bad that is yet, but that’s a shame cos he’s had a fantastic pre-season. And uh big Richie, he just felt a bit of a numb on his knee and he was a little bit I think unsure at first, but he’s he’s fine. He’s fine.
“So you know, look, we’re going to get one or two injuries uh pre-season. You got to expect that and um that’s what the squad’s for.”
A common theme in Woodman’s substitutions in pre-season has been the introduction of youth players with Nathan Patten and Hayden Bullas in particular standing out for him.
“Superb. I mean, the first header Nathan Patten done was unbelievable. He went right through the player in a fair way. Uh and that’s an 18-year-old centre-half who in my opinion is going to go right away to the top.
“I think he’s a really good player and then you got Hayden in the middle of the park who looks so comfortable, you know, they all look really comfortable and that’s the beauty of pre-season having them around us every day and getting them playing and training with us.
“Um like I said the other day, the key now is when the season starts, where I pitch him and where I play him and where they fit in to make sure they’re still progressing ready for this football club along the way.”
Last season saw Bromley prove to be one of the fittest teams in League Two and Woodman is pleased at the current fitness levels, but is wary that pre-season doesn’t tell the full story as the judging will come once the season commences competitively.
“I think we look exactly what we are, fit Bromley team and that’s important, you know, that we are that. I mean, that’s how our super strength last year that we was the fittest and most powerful team in the league. And I felt that again tonight we looked like we was, you know, getting stronger as the match went on.
“So for me, you know, we’re right on track, but the real stuff starts in a few weeks and that’s when we start being judged.”
Bromley beat Crystal Palace last weekend and with a home match against QPR to come on Friday 31 July (7:30pm BST) followed by a trip to Barnet on Saturday 1 August (3pm), Woodman applauded the importance of local links and clubs supporting one another.
“Millwall have been good to us um over the years with um you know, the loans we’ve had from them and the players they’ve helped us out with and you know, we want to maintain that relationship. You know, that’s the beauty of where we’re positioned.
“You know, with Crystal Palace there, Millwall there, Charlton just behind us. You know, we’ve got some good clubs around us and you know, it’s important to be kind of in a sort of footballing sort of way look out for each other and help each other out and all of those clubs I’ve mentioned have all helped us out for sure.”