Bromley have avoided defeat in their previous 15 matches, the second-longest unbeaten streak in the EFL behind Lincoln City, and are at the top of the League Two table.
In contrast, they are now winless in their last three, following draws against Notts County, Cheltenham and Harrogate Town.
This has caused an unusually grumbling atmosphere among portions of the Ravens’ fanbase and increased concerns over a lack of rotation in the lineup.
With players subsequently starting to tire just as the business end of the season begins, should manager Andy Woodman freshen up his squad, or should he continue starting those that have been crucial in exceeding pre-season expectations?
It’s a textbook example of stick or twist.
Brought in from Brighton and Hove Albion’s Under-21 side in February 2025, and registering less than 100 minutes in League Two last season, Marcus Ifill was initially destined to be a long-term prospect at right wing for Bromley.
Yet in this campaign, the winger has become a mainstay at right back instead, following Danny Imray’s departure and then Carl Jenkinson’s dislocated hip injury that he suffered against Millwall in preseason.
Regarding League Two fullbacks, Ifill ranks in the 93rd percentile for tackles per 90 (2.86), 94th percentile for total duels won (158) and 75th percentile for fouls won per 90 (1.57). This demonstrates Ifill’s capability to stand strong in defence while also adding some trickery in attack.
Albeit, the 22-year-old has struggled as of late. Tactically, opposition wingers have started to stay higher up the field against Bromley, which has put sustained pressure on Ifill.
This has led to the right back giving away a converted penalty against Notts County, after fouling Jodi Jones, and struggling to keep quiet Cheltenham Town’s Jake Bickerstaff, where the Welshman had more touches in the opposition box than any other player on the pitch (11).
Hooked off at halftime away to Harrogate in the latest of the three draws, Bromley manager Andy Woodman later expressed that:
“he (Marcus Ifill) had a bit of an ankle issue” and therefore “hasn’t been training as much as he’d like to” as well as labelling his performance as “he was having a tricky afternoon.”
With Carl Jenkinson featuring in the second half of that game and offering a stark contrast of experience in defence, will the 34-year-old, or perhaps Lakyle Samuel, be Woodman’s preferred choice over Marcus Ifill on Saturday?
A broader area of apprehension for Bromley fans is their recently floundering attack. Across the last three games, the Ravens have accumulated an average XG of 0.69- significantly less than their average this season of 1.46.
Additionally, and most worryingly, top goalscorer Michael Cheek has failed to find the back of the net in his last eight games.
He also couldn’t manage to register a single shot on goal last time out against Harrogate Town, where Bromley also didn’t have a shot on target in that match.
Bromley’s first-choice attacking trio of Mitchell Pinnock (31), Michael Cheek (34), and Corey Whitely (34) all have one common characteristic: their age range.
It’s no surprise that from a creative perspective, Bromley have appeared flat looking forward and lacked that sense of youthful spark, as aging legs that haven’t been rested start to visibly fatigue.
Yet on Bromley’s bench are Brooklyn Ilunga and Damola Ajayi, who can provide that exciting flair and give opposition defenders a variety of problems when they’re at their best.
Meanwhile, Nicke Kabamba has double digits in league goals for Bromley this season, despite his last start in all competitions for the Ravens being in November- against AFC Wimbledon in the Vertu Trophy.
If Woodman were to drop Bromley’s talismanic but now out-of-form striker, Kabamba would be a deserving replacement.
There is a slim possibility that Woodman could tweak the formation of his line-up, and it wouldn’t be the first time that he has done it when eyeing promotion.
In the latter stages of the 2023/24 season, where Bromley would eventually be promoted to the EFL via the playoffs, Woodman adjusted his preferred 3-5-2 to a 3-4-3 shape by reducing the number of strikers.
This time around Bromley’s manager may do the opposite.
Adding an extra striker in Kabamba, alongside Michael Cheek, could shift the formation to a 4-4-2.
Although the 54-year-old might revert back to a 3-5-2 formation, which was used to beat both Cheltenham and Harrogate Town earlier this season.
Both potential formation changes can be viewed in the graphic below.
No matter what changes are and aren’t made, the Ravens’ next game at home to Accrington Stanley has become an important one. Win and the pressure will momentarily dissipate, don’t and the nerves of missing out on automatic promotion will grow.
