Cambridge vs Bromley: Big Bet Preview

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Cambridge vs Bromley
(Sat 18 Oct, 12:30pm UK Time - Sky Sports +)

The twists and turns of a dramatic international break are over and it’s back to business as usual here at Tipple - this week the Big Bet focuses on the battle for the play-off spaces in the fourth tier as Bromley travel to Cambridge in this Saturday’s early kick-off.

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League Two is proving itself to be the demanding and exhausting test we all know it can be, and that’s why we love it. We’re over a quarter of the way through the new season now so teams should be starting to settle into their positions in the table, but it’s still anyone’s guess as to who will clinch the all-important top seven places come next May.

Consistency across the full campaign is rare at this level. Injuries, late bursts of form and a packed fixture list will all play a part in deciding who tops the pile when the dust settles. Until then, the objective is to stay within touching distance and wait for other teams around you to falter as you look to string a few results together to leapfrog your rivals.

Cambridge are hoping for an immediate return to League One while their opponents are looking to build on their historic rise as they entered the Football League for the first time last season, both teams have it all to play for in this weekend’s Big Bet.

Form

Bromley arrive in Cambridge in great spirits off the back of an impressive 1-0 away win at fellow play-off hopefuls Crewe, whereas their hosts are still licking their wounds after suffering an embarrassing 2-0 defeat at strugglers Shrewsbury last time out.

Both teams have performed relatively average in front of goal and at the back, neither side having a particularly impressive goal difference. Cambridge have one of the best home records in the league, losing just once at The Abbey so far this campaign. Bromley haven’t been spectacular away from home but have managed two wins, including against Crewe last time out, so are certainly capable of picking up points here.

Before last weekend, Bromley had gone seven games without a win in all competitions yet still managed to keep pace with the play-offs. They don’t lose often, drawing on six occasions already this season to keep chipping away and adding points to their tally. Their principal issue is their ability - or more so inability - to defend leads, goals can be hard to come by in this division against tough opponents so it is crucial they keep it tight if they manage to take the lead against Cambridge here. Bromley have dropped points from winning positions three times and never won when going behind so far this season, so don’t expect your away win to be safe if Bromley take the lead early on.

The hosts’s form has been patchy on their return to League Two. Every statement win that makes you think this is the result that they’ll kick on from and push for the automatic spots is seemingly always followed up by a disappointing loss or draw at a side they should be looking to beat handily. They are yet to win twice in a row, so the good news for Cambridge fans is they lost last time out. Questions may start to arise around Neil Harris if his side drop points again here, they have a very strong squad for this division and if they don’t get back to League One sooner rather than later they will get picked apart and could be left stranded in the fourth tier. Promotion is a necessity and a win here would do them the world of good.

Head-to-head

Not much to go on here! Football League newcomers Bromley have only faced off against Cambridge once previously, a scintillating 3-3 draw in last season’s EFL Trophy group stages, Bromley then won 5-4 on penalties.

On that basis, there’s an average of six goals a game in this fixture - so be ready for a barn burner!

Lack of any history makes this fixture really interesting. A first league meeting between the two, who will come out on top?

Key Battle

James Gibbons vs Mitchell Pinnock

When talking about Bromley, it’s easy to single out their talismanic centre-forward Michael Cheek as the danger man, and for good reason. A striker can’t score goals without having chances created for him, however, so Cambridge will need to keep left winger Mitchell Pinnock from teeing up the main man up top.

Pinnock has created the most chances in League Two this season with a staggering 35 so far, twelve ahead of his nearest competition. These have resulted in four assists already, second in the division and comfortably more than anyone else on either side of this fixture.

The man tasked with keeping him at bay will be right-back James Gibbons. Gibbons is a strong defensive full-back who will relish this encounter, he rarely drives forward and will be happy to take on the challenge of sitting deep and monitoring Pinnock to stop him setting any more goals up for his side.

It’ll be a tough weekend for both of them as they come up against one of their fiercest competitors yet, do you back Pinnock to continue his league-leading form or will Gibbons have him locked down?

Preview

It’s early doors, but Cambridge have to be better and start consistently picking up points if they’re to challenge at the level their squad should demand. Victory over Bromley will be difficult, but really should be expected of them with the comparative resources they have at their disposal. A win this weekend might just catapult them into a run of form that sees them make eyes at the automatic spaces, as they play fellow challengers Notts County, Salford, Barnet and Crewe in their next five league games. Opinion on Cambridge could be very different come Christmas time, a tricky run against all the division’s top sides could leave them stranded or see them top the tree.

Bromley are unpredictable at best, and flakey at worst. Their incredible work to get to this position in the pyramid has to be applauded, but now what? They need to learn to see games out and battle back from going behind if they’re going to have any chance of making it to the play-offs and an unprecedented appearance in the third tier. They have all the tools, it’s time to use them.

A tight game that’s too close to call! Will the hosts finally show what they’re made of or will the visitors pull out another memorable result on their incredible rise from non-league?

Tipple Difficulty Rating: 9.5/10