Crewe Alexandra vs Bromley preview
I always had this game marked down as the true barometer of the quality of Bromley’s unbeaten run.
Very few teams have made Bromley look ordinary this season, but that early-season defeat to Crewe Alexandra was a rude awakening for the team.
Until the 83rd minute, Bromley held an early Lewis Leigh goal advantage, but as the game approached full-time, there was an overwhelming sense that Crewe would rescue a point at the bare minimum.
Off the bench, they were able to turn to Joel Tabiner, Jack Lankester, Ryan Cooney, Christopher Long, and Omar Bogle. Crewe won the game 2-1.
It was a wake-up call as to how to use substitutes in League Two, but it also highlighted the difference some teams have in terms of quality in depth.
Let it not be forgotten that Crewe reached the League Two play-off final last season and kept the majority of that squad to go again in 24/25.
That win against Bromley effectively kick-started Crewe’s season. They have only lost two of the nineteen games that have followed.
Make no mistake as to the scale of the challenge Bromley will face to try and come back from Gresty Road with one point, let alone three.
Also of note is the fact that Crewe have the third-best defence in League Two.
The pattern of the game is fairly easy to predict: Crewe will dominate possession and look to probe and pull Bromley out of shape.
Bromley will look to be as compact as possible in their defensive shape and use the pace of Imray and Whitely on the counter to create moments.
The other way Bromley will try to seek an advantage will be at set plays.
By no means is the task at Crewe insurmountable, but as the final game in a hectic festive calendar, it may actually just boil down to which side has the most energy left.
Bromley did well at Gillingham to finally rotate their squad, and the inclusion of Deji Elerewe and Louis Dennis offered fresh impetus to the XI.
On paper, one would say Andy Woodman should simply play the same XI that won at Gillingham, but I am anticipating further changes for the visit to Crewe.
Horses for courses.
It would not, for example, surprise me to see Calum Reynolds return to the starting XI or Olufela Olomola/Levi Amantchi step in for Louis Dennis.
I do worry about Jude Arthurs and Ben Thompson being asked to go back to back-to-back, but given this is such a hard game to navigate, can Andy Woodman really rotate out any of his certain starters?
What would you do?
The From Bromley with Love XI
Smith
Grant Sowunmi Reynolds
Imray Thompson Arthurs Odutayo
Whitely
Cheek Olomola
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Please note all match photographs in this article are by Martin Greig - please follow him on Twitter here
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Would be risky to start Deji again so soon despite his excellent return on Thursday. Same with Louis after so long out , maybe Charles gets a game ? Would take a point for sure .