Preview: Bromley vs Walsall

With promotion secured and the initial heady celebrations completed, Bromley face the rather serious business of attempting to claim the League Two title on Saturday. 

The permutations are pretty simple: Bromley have to beat Walsall, and MK Dons have to draw or lose.

The title is very much in MK Dons' hands, but they have to travel to Fleetwood Town to secure it. Bromley, meanwhile, have home comforts and an unbeaten record to protect as they go in search of the three points that could make all the difference.

This is Bromley’s first home game since they secured their fairytale promotion to League One, so it seems certain that a celebratory atmosphere will greet the players on Saturday. Even so, you can bet that Andy Woodman will not be treating the game with any sentiment. This is not the time to give players game time for the sake of it. While there is something to be won, Woodman’s side must go all out.

It has been ten days since Bromley last played. That means that, long-term injuries aside, the manager should have a fully fit squad to choose from. In fact, they will arrive for the grand finale with perhaps their freshest legs in months. 

Woodman’s go-to formation this season was 4-2-3-1, but Michael Cheek’s injury changed the conversation. The loss of attacking strength-in-depth inspired a switch to 3-4-2-1, which has given lone-wolf striker Nicke Kabamba more attacking support and has added some cement to the back line.

Ben Thompson and Ben Krauhaus have been occupying the pockets behind Kabamba’s battering ram, with Thompson’s eye for goal a particular threat. For last Thursday’s trip to Salford, however, Corey Whitely and Ben Krauhaus were the chosen two, and it was effective for 45 minutes until the home side took control of proceedings. 

Given that nothing less than a win will do, goals are the order of the day. For that reason, I expect Andy will start with the players most likely to offer him a goal threat. If Ben Thompson is fit, he will start.

Last season, having led the league by a healthy margin for much of the campaign, Walsall imploded, dramatically falling out of the automatic promotion places and losing to AFC Wimbledon in the play-off final. This season, they imploded yet again, albeit their fall from grace occurred much earlier.

It is easy to forget that when Bromley travelled to Walsall in November, the Saddlers ran out deserved 3-1 winners, with the victory cementing their grip on top spot. They held on to that spot as late as Boxing Day, but since then, they have won just seven games. 

Three of these wins came after Darren Byfield was appointed as interim manager, replacing Matt Sadler on the 11th of March. A book needs to be written on Matt Sadler’s reign, examining how a team can set the pace at the top of the league in consecutive seasons only to then inexplicably implode.

Darren Byfield is a Walsall legend, and despite an early uptick in form following his appointment, the Saddlers have lost two of their last three games and are in danger of ending his tenure with a whimper.

The manager has issued a rallying call to his players, telling them to go to Bromley and be the only side to win at Hayes Lane this season. Would that be enough to see him rewarded with the manager’s post full-time?

Within Walsall’s squad, Byfield can call upon the emerging talent of Daniel Kanu, League Two’s Young Player of the Season. The 21-year-old Charlton loanee has contributed an impressive 15 goals and 2 assists in this campaign.

His performances will have likely turned heads in League One. If Charlton make him available for a loan again next season, is Kanu someone Bromley might look at?

Byfield has favoured a 4-3-3, with the evergreen Albert Adomah on one side of him and either Jid Okeke or Aaron Loupalo-Bi on the other. Whether that shape is too open for Walsall is a key question, especially as they haven’t kept a clean sheet in seven games.  

In truth, the Saddlers’ 12th-place position correctly reflects a side that simply hasn’t scored enough and has conceded too many to be a serious play-off contender. They might turn up at Hayes Lane hoping to crash the party, but will that be enough to motivate them when the going gets tough? 

And it will get tough.

When Andy Woodman’s side have the bit between their teeth and a point to prove, you back them to perform. That’s why, for me, everything points to a Bromley win.

How will they sign off, and which XI will run out for the final time this season?

Smith

Sowunmi Webster Medley

Ifill Charles Hondermarck Pinnock

Krauhaus Thompson

Kabamba