Bromley manager, Andy Woodman has vowed to get his team “grafting” in the international break after their 2-1 win over Huddersfield.
Ex Terrier, Mickel Miller netted a 71st-minute winner with a long-range strike for Bromley after JJ McKiernan’s header was cancelled out by Ashley Fletcher’s header from a Huddersfield free-kick, as the Terriers’ unbeaten start to the season was ended.
The result lifted Bromley up to 19th in the League One table and out of the relegation zone, although Chanse Headman however went off with a suspected “hamstring” injury.
Corey Whitely meanwhile was substituted with concussion of which Woodman felt was a wise decision in regard to Whitely’s long-term health, as he explained to BFC TV post-match.
“Just couldn’t take the risk, you know, struggling. Corey was too honest for his own good. I knew he was struggling, you know, some things are more important than football and the result, when it’s a case of let’s take him off, you know. I can’t risk his health, just couldn’t do it.”
Woodman however iterated that just because Bromley has no League One fixture until 10 October due to international call-ups, those staying at the club in the international break won’t be taking it easy and will instead be working hard on their game play.
“I mean, look, we’ve got some good players. We’ve just got to get them all up to speed, and you know, this little break we’ve got international break which does make me laugh, Bromley have an international break.
“We are going to really get some grafting into these boys now, and that doesn’t mean just run and do that, it means like really make sure that we use this time, you know, importantly to make sure that this squad now carries this right through to be superior and get the results coming in.”
Unknown to many until after the full-time whistle, McKiernan had started the match despite feeling unwell as Woodman explained that the 24-year-old midfielder was vomiting pre-match, but was pleased to get the result despite McKiernan’s first-half substitution due to illness.
“Typical of us really. We had the dreaded left-back curse, which seems to be a curse at the moment. We had chances when obviously go off. We had JJ throwing up before the game. We just went out there, just throwing up on the pitch. Scored then had to come off cos so poorly. Corey injured. The goalkeeper, you know, he played on his shoulders pretty soon.
“A goal disallowed which I thought was a good goal. A soft free-kick was given their goal. I think everything that could have gone against us, having an enlightening strike of us was out there today. And for me, I’m brilliantly happy with that because it showed the carrots from my team and the desire and the will to not let anything be an excuse.
“And they shone through today, delightful.”
The fact that Bromley didn’t concede until first-half injury time pleased Woodman as he added: “Yeah it was very important. Very important we didn’t concede the first 15, 20 minutes, that was important because we’ve done that in a few games.
“And I think, you know, just showing that we’ve got confidence and belief in what we’re doing.
“That’s a good team you know, Huddersfield were in the Premier League a few years ago, and they’re a big club, they should be a Championship club, you know, with respect to what they’ve got in comparison to what we’ve got at the moment, and there’s no disrespect to us.
“You know, it’s brilliant result for Bromley Football Club.”
Woodman addressed the decision to let McKiernan play as he explained that the midfielder wanted to play but admitted that his goal sucked his energy out of him, which led him to be substituted, and praised Miller for stepping up following Headman’s injury.
“I spoke to him before the game, he was throwing it up. I said ‘Are you really alright to play definitely’ And when he goes and scores a goal and he tried, he’s got nothing in him, bless his eye, he was a very good character by him. And then, you know, Mickel, he’s not up to speed yet okay, never played quite up to speed, you know, he comes on and got the winner for us.
“There’s so many pluses out there today, and so many traits that I wanted to see, and I’ve seen, so I’m really, really, even though my face doesn’t look like I’m really happy.”
Woodman acknowledged the character that the players showed to beat Huddersfield as he credited the staff for the performance.
“Absolutely and you know credit to the players. You know they’ve really worked hard and really got their heads down, and we’ve got some good meetings, we’ve got some good work on the training pitch. They’ve got the grafting along with staff.
“The staff have got to have a lot of credit. You know, they’ve grafted and made sure that we have left no stone on the pitch, on the training pitch, leading up to the games, and it’s going to be like that for the season.
“You know, we have to go that because we’re not that good in respect of we’ve got to make sure we don’t need any stone unturned, and we did that today.”
The 55-year-old gaffer also rued their continued injury woes at left-back following Headman’s injury as he spoke of his frustration at the lack of luck in that position this season.
“It’s a hell of a lot to tell me. We haven’t finished, we haven’t finished with the same left back that started the game this season. So that’s a shame and disappointing, and annoying. But, you know, I’ve got to keep playing on through and if someone goes out, someone else has to come in.
“And, you know, that’s where we are at. We’re learning on the job, we’re probably putting everything we can into every game, and we’re going to probably get injuries.”
Looking ahead to the international break which includes an EFL Trophy match against Brentford Under-21s on Tuesday 22 September, Woodman revealed that he had planned out what the players will be doing before the win over Huddersfield.
“Yeah, I think we’ve got to make sure we utilise this time which we will. Had it all planned before today’s result, whatever the result was, I didn’t plan out what we’re going to do, mapped out what we’re going to do, as you know. And yeah, that’s what we’re going to be doing.
“I mean we’re going to be making sure we get to the grass and we come back after this little, I won’t say break, this little mini pre-season we’re going to have, ready to go.”
With 5,004 fans in attendance – including 819 away supporters, Woodman enjoyed the atmosphere and especially the noise in the George Wakeling Stand which brought extra motivation to the players as he praised fans for their noisy presence.
“Oh I believe I mean we do talk about the crowd, we love it but brilliant. I mean I can only in the lot beyond me because it’s so noisy, but fantastic. I mean there’s no way that we did that result without them.
“And they know that they’re enjoying it well, I’m not enjoying it, but they know that I enjoy it as much as everyone else, which is great.
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