Southend United 0-1 Bromley

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

A change of shape and a change of fortunes.

That’s likely how some will interpret the victory at Southend United. While there may be some merit in that analysis, I think it was less about a change of shape and more about a side that played with bite and determination. Formation be damned.

We’ve seen gritty 1-0 away wins before and this one was no different. Solid from front to back, pressing in unison, counter-attacking with purpose, getting the go-ahead goal and giving everything to protect the lead.

I could be wrong, but it had all the hallmarks of a side responding to recent criticism with a siege-mentality performance. After all, there’s no better way to silence the 'lost dressing room' chat than a breathless, united performance away at a fellow play-off contender. 

As ever, I reflect on The Good, The Bad and The Ugly from Bromley’s battling win away at Southend United.

Have a read and let me know your thoughts in the comments below

The Line-up vs Southend United

The Good

The kids are alright indeed.

My last piece spoke about the talented youngsters Bromley have at their disposal and this game provided a timely reminder.

It takes some balls to start 18-year-old Kellen Fisher at right back and bring on 18-year-old Ben Krauhaus for the final nine minutes with only one goal in it. Then again, what’s the point of singing their praises after a great loan spell at Cray Wanderers if you can’t then trust them in these kinds of situations?

Kellen and Ben passed the test with flying colours and provided vindication for Andy Woodman’s process of blooding them slowly but surely.

Kellen Fisher’s performance was a particular highlight. After a torrid start, he grew into the match and showed a side to his game I had yet to see. Call it the 'nasty stuff', for want of a better expression, but for someone so young he wasn’t afraid to get involved with the dirty part of the game when the moment required it. 

Why do I raise that? Talent aside, it’s easy to look at Fisher’s slight frame and assume he would be out of his depth, but this game showed that he won't be overawed by the occasion and can't be bullied. 

He’s not the finished article, and there will be difficult tests and setbacks to come, but this match will have been a crucial step in his development. He can look back on it as his coming-of-age moment in the National League. 

Bromley’s change of shape will get the headlines on the forums and message boards, and there will be plenty of "told you so" talk. Indeed, switching to a flat back four and a more conventional left back (Besart Topalloj) and right back (Kellen Fisher) did offer a better balance to the side as it freed wingers Corey Whitely and Harry Forster to cause more damage in the final third.

However, I hesitate to attribute this performance to the change in shape alone. 

Ultimately, Bromley still had a lot of defending to do. Whitely and Forster, for example, were constantly tracking back to support their fullbacks. Importantly, they didn’t shirk the hard work and this was the defining element for me: players doggedly sticking to their tasks both in and out of possession. 

You can play whatever shape you want but if players don’t remain disciplined then it soon becomes irrelevant. 

The flip side to that argument, however, would be the performance of Louis Dennis. In essence, for 4231 to work, the player in the hole has to be front-and-centre in the attacking transitions as they have the most 'creative licence'. That’s a lot of responsibility, and it takes a unique talent to pull it off.

For Bromley fans of a certain vintage, Louis Dennis served up a throwback display that reaffirms his place as a fans' favourite. Louis has cut a frustrated figure this season, and rightly so given his limited opportunities, yet he has produced more than others when called upon.

He gave Southend fair warning in the first half, dovetailing neatly with Corey Whitely to create Bromley’s best attacking moments. Then, in the second 45, he capped his display with the winning goal. 

That’s three goals in eleven league appearances for Louis, though it’s worth noting that he was only in the starting XI for three of those games. Hopefully this performance kickstarts his season and catapults him into the kind of form that forces Andy Woodman to consider him a nailed-on starter.

At the risk of writing too much, I also have to highlight debutant Millwall loanee Besart Topalloj, who showed maturity beyond his years and a great heart for the fight. He looks like a very good prospect.

The final bright spark was Ethan Coleman, who, for me, put in his best performance in a Bromley shirt. Without Billy Bingham or James Vennings beside him, Coleman rose to the challenge of running the midfield. It was as dynamic a performance as I’ve seen from him and suggests that he isn’t a second fiddle player and actually wants to be 'the guy'.

The Bad

It’s hard to find the 'bad' in a performance where there was so much 'good' on the pitch. That’s why my focus is off it.

In his post-match interview, Andy Woodman spoke about the side trying to "shut out the noise" and having to "deal with a lot thrown at them." 

You don’t have to be a super sleuth to know that this was likely a dig at the more vocal elements of Bromley’s fanbase. 

No sports team is above criticism, and this isn’t to say we have to back them at all costs, but I do feel some of the criticism of Andy Woodman and/or his team is bordering on personal and somewhat devoid of context.

I said before the game that if, at the start of the season, someone had offered me Bromley being three points off the playoffs going into the final game of 2022, I would have taken it. 

They duly end the year in eighth place, level with Solihull Moors in seventh and one point behind Southend United in sixth. It really begs the question: What is it that some fans want? 

If it isn’t being in-and-around the playoffs then what is it? What’s driving the criticism? What am I not seeing?

The Ugly

What is Bromley’s best XI? 

The win at Southend might be viewed as Bromley’s most satisfying result of the season so far. Yet this impressive victory was achieved with several players who aren’t necessarily the manager’s first choice. Debutant Topalloj aside, Fisher, Dennis, Coleman, and Arthurs have all been on the periphery of the starting XI this season, yet every single one of them was excellent here. 

Andy Woodman’s switch to four at the back was probably more in response to Omar Sowunmi’s absence than anything else, but is this formation a better fit for the players currently at his disposal?

Lastly, Michael Cheek was left on the bench as Woodman opted to play Adam Marriott as a lone frontman, supported by Forster, Dennis, and Whitely. Perhaps this was 'playing it safe' away from home, but could a well-supported solo frontman work at home too?

As Bromley head into 2023, reinforcements will be on the manager’s mind and ruthless decisions may need to be made. It seems fair to say that Woodman no longer has a 'preferred XI' and will select based on the opposition and those who have done well enough to keep the shirt so you have to wonder if anyone is safe?

The first sign of this will come on New Year's Day when we play Southend in the reverse fixture at Hayes Lane. Omar Sowunmi and James Vennings will be back from suspension and Cheek will no doubt be itching to start. 

Do all three walk back in? If Bromley are serious about a playoff push in 2023, it may be time to make some ugly, unpopular decisions in order to collect three points from week to week.

If that means a few fan favourites have to ride the bench then so be it. It's why managers build squads. 

How Woodman utilises his squad in 2023 will go a long way to determining whether Bromley end their season in the play-offs or not. 

Match ratings

Tom Smith (8)

Kellen Fisher (8)

Byron Webster (8)

Callum Reynolds (8)

Besart Topalloj (8)

Ethan Coleman (9)

Jude Arthurs (8)

Harry Forster (7)

Louis Dennis (8)

Corey Whitely (8)

Adam Marriott (7)

Subs:

Michael Cheek for Adam Marriott 75 (6)

Ben Krauhaus for Louis Dennis 90 (6)

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