Andy Woodman slams Bromley display after 1-0 loss to Colchester United
A Ravens side fresh off their FA Cup loss at Newcastle last Sunday were stunned when the U’s Owura Edwards found himself free in the area and slotted into the bottom right corner in the fourth minute.
Despite relentless pressure from Bromley throughout the rest of the game, they found no way through the opposition’s robust defence, with set-piece deliveries especially being wasted time and time again in search of an equaliser.
Edwards’ goal proved to be decisive, marking a second consecutive league loss for Bromley since Crewe shattered their 12-game unbeaten run in League Two with a 4-1 victory a fortnight ago.
The boss was far from pleased with the circumstances of the defeat, and especially with the defending that led to such an early goal in a game that had been seen as winnable by the club and fans alike.
“We were the masters of our own downfall to be honest,” said Woodman. “The goal we gifted them, we can’t leave a guy just to ghost in at the back stick and tap it away, it was poor from us. Let’s be honest, the defending there was pretty horrific.
“We were poor in every department. Colchester sat in a low block most of the game and we couldn’t break them down or have any moments of quality. Even our set pieces, just deliveries into the box, we couldn’t do that.
“The only player that can earn a little bit of credit is Brooklyn Ilunga, who came on and sparked us a little bit of light. I think there’s one or two players dining out on old performances and we can’t do that.
“It was meant to be an attacking set-up, we’re at home and we want to be a team that takes the game to the opposition, but we didn’t do it. We didn’t get any passing or movement or control of the game. Everyone keeps telling me we need to be more attacking, maybe we just need to be defensively solid and go from what we are.”
He said: “You’ve got to get a group of players on the pitch there who want to give it their all and want to be brave on the ball and in their decision making. That’s what we’ll have to pick, a team that’s brave in all departments.”