Fleetwood Town vs Bromley preview

Such has been the rise of Bromley Football Club over the last 10 years, you could be forgiven for not knowing that these two teams have locked horns before.

Back in 2012/13, on one of Bromley’s habitual runs to the FA Cup first round, the Ravens drew Fleetwood Town out of the hat. 

About 200 Bromley fans travelled up to Blackpool for that tie, which was no mean feat given crowds only averaged about 800 at Hayes Lane in those days. 

Many of us, myself included, chose to stay overnight after the game. One day, I will retell the story of that night. Fear and Loathing in Blackpool indeed. 

Anywho, that game felt like a big tie for Conference South Bromley and we travelled up with optimism. Oh ye hardy fools. Within half an hour of kick-off, the tie was over. David Ball scored on 11 minutes, then Jon Parkin stroked home penalties on 17 and 34 minutes. The Captain Pugwash theme tune serenaded us after every goal.

Embittering doesn’t do the experience justice. 

Yet here we are, 12 years and two promotions later, playing Fleetwood Town in a League Two fixture.

Fleetwood are currently managed by Charlie Adam, the former Rangers, Stoke City, and Liverpool midfielder.

Adam was appointed at the beginning of 2024 when Fleetwood were on a nine-game winless run. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to keep them in League One, with the Fishermen falling three points shy of an escape.

Relegation brought an end to their 10-year stay in League One.

During his 35-game tenure, Adam has a 35% win percentage. However, Fleetwood have only lost 12 of those games, so make of that what you will.

Some have suggested that off-field activity may have rocked Fleetwood’s boat last season, with their former owner Andy Pilley receiving a 13-year prison sentence for fraud. Either way, with his son Jamie Pilley now in charge, Fleetwood have set about trying to build a squad that can regain the club’s League One status.

Among others, Zach Medley (KV Oostende), Matty Virtue (Blackpool), and Liam Shaw (Celtic) arrived at Highbury over the summer. However, the Fishermen lost top scorer Jayden Stockley to Port Vale, and talented wingers Promise Omochere and Cian Hayes to Bristol Rovers and Peterborough United respectively.

Another blow came in the form of winger Maleace Asamoah leaving on deadline day to join Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee.

Suffice to say, Charlie Adam has his work cut out, but that hasn’t shown in the start Fleetwood have made. They sit sixth in the table having only lost once in their first eight games.

Ominously, in their last game, they destroyed Walsall 6-2. Walsall were top of League Two when that game kicked off.

Look out for Ronan Coughlin and Ryan Graydon who already have 14 goals between them in all competitions.

Andy Woodman was encouraged by Bromley's most recent performance, a midweek 2-2 draw against Chesterfield. He declared it the most Bromley performance he has seen in a while.

We already know what Andy means when he talks about the ‘Bromley DNA’. The question is whether the two consecutive draws against MK Dons and Chesterfield suggest Bromley have become a more steely outfit.

There was a surprise call in the selection of Olufela Olomola for the Chesterfield game, but it turned out to be a masterstroke. As a result, I expect Fela will keep his spot for Fleetwood and Bromley will keep two up-front. 

In fact, it is hard to see why Bromley would change the side from Tuesday. 

But having run some hard yards on Tuesday night, it seems imperative that Andy utilises his bench against Fleetwood at the right time.

So rather than who starts, for me, the question is who can have the biggest impact from the bench. That’s where League Two teams seem to have a significant advantage over Bromley at the moment. Strength in depth can turn a result on its head, as Bromley have found to their cost this season.

So, which XI and which bench would you pick?

The From Bromley with Love XI

Smith

Sowunmi Reynolds Grant

Imray Thompson Charles 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

All articles are edited by Peter Etherington you can link to him here

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