Preview: Fleetwood Town vs Bromley

Centre-back Zech Medley joined Bromley on loan from Fleetwood just over a week ago and was thrown straight into Andy Woodman’s starting XI. While Zech won’t be permitted to play against his parent club today, it is worth asking if all is well with the Cod Army.

On January 25th, Pete Wild was removed as Fleetwood's gaffer after a run of six defeats in seven matches. Was that the only way to arrest a bad run of form, or was it a sign that Fleetwood’s board don’t understand where they now sit in League Two’s pecking order? The answer depends on who you speak to at the club.

Gone are the days when Fleetwood were big spenders with lofty dreams of climbing up the pyramid. Today, they cut their cloth in a more downmarket fashion.

The transfer window saw the Cod sell arguably their best player, striker Ryan Graydon, to League Two rivals Salford City for a huge undisclosed fee (rumoured to be around £400,000, rising to £600,000 with add-ons). They also sold goalkeeper David Harrington to Bolton for an undisclosed fee, and of course, let Zech Medley leave on loan to Bromley.

It hardly speaks to a club looking upwards.

Even so, after replacing Pete Wild with Matt Lawlor, who was his first team coach, some of the money raised from the sales was put to immediate use. Late in the window, the club made a flurry of additions to boost squad numbers in the face of an injury crisis.

Josh Powell and Esapa Osong arrived from Nottingham Forest on loan, Rhys Bennett joined from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee, and Mitch Clark was loaned in from Port Vale.

The Cod are currently sitting fifteenth in the table, and without Graydon’s goal contributions, it is hard to see them putting themselves back in the play-off conversation. That said, it is worth pointing out that, for all of Fleetwood’s iffy form, their games are tight.

They haven’t lost a game by two goals or more since October 4th, so it is fair to say that Bromley would have to go some to replicate their 4-1 win at Gillingham last Saturday.

Generally speaking, Fleetwood prefer a version of the 3-5-2 / 3-4-1-2 shape. It would be surprising if Bromley switched to a back three to counteract the front two, particularly when a back four has been the foundation that has taken them to the top of League Two. I expect Andy Woodman will stick rather than twist.

Since October 11th, Fleetwood have only won six league games out of their last seventeen. The wins during that run came against Harrogate x2, Gillingham, Accrington, Shrewsbury, and Newport County. So while they are a difficult team to beat, recent proof suggests that they are not defeating the top sides in the league. 

For Andy Woodman, the biggest question may well be who comes back to partner Jesse Debrah at centre-back. Assuming Omar Sowunmi is fit, you would think that he would be in pole position.

After a full week to recover from the Gillingham game, the rest of the team sheet almost writes itself, with Woodman’s game plan likely dependent on how he utilises his subs. 

Michael Cheek and Mitchell Pinnock haven’t had a goal contribution in a while (four games to be precise), so you would think they are due something today.

For those who like a flutter, maybe focus your attention there. 

Possible Bromley XI

Smith

Ifill Sowunmi Debrah Odutayo

Hondermarck Charles 

Whitely Thompson Pinnock

Cheek