DANNY Cowley says Colchester United will face opponents who carry a ‘huge threat’ when they host Bromley this afternoon.
The U’s are aiming to continue their impressive recent League Two form when they take on the Ravens, who sit three points above them in the table heading into the televised clash (kick-off 12.30pm).
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There will be plenty of familiar faces on show when the visitors come to the JobServe Community Stadium.
Bromley are managed by former Colchester goalkeeper Andy Woodman whose assistant is ex-U’s number two Alex Dyer, while U’s fans will remember Omar Sowunmi and Nicke Kabamba.
READ MORE: Former Colchester goalkeeper gets first senior international call-up
In addition, Ravens duo Michael Cheek and Mitch Pinnock both played under the Cowleys, at Braintree Town and Concord Rangers respectively.
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U’s boss Cowley said: “There’s very little between all of the teams, in League Two.
“I watched Bromley play Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup at the weekend.
“They dominated that game and conceded two goals I think in the 74th and 76th minutes and all of a sudden were 2-0 down and you were like, wow, how did that happen?
“Bromley are a really powerful, aggressive, front foot team.
Andy Woodman (Image: Martin Greig)
“They ask a lot of questions of you and they carry huge threat, in open play with their directness.
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“There’s contrasting styles between the teams but the statistics are quite similar.
“They do what they do really, really well and they’ve got some really good players for the level.
“They obviously have Michael Cheek, who is never far away from a goal.
“I’m so proud for him and the career that he has had for himself, having had him as a real young one at Braintree.
“They’re also a real threat from set pieces – they have Mitchell Pinnock, who’s another boy who started with us, at Concord Rangers.
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“He has a long throw, a really good left foot, can shoot, can cross with real high quality.
READ MORE: Colchester’s Micah Mbick called up to England under-20 squad
“They have a real aerial threat in Omar Sowunmi, who is very, very dangerous as a centre-half in the attacking box.
“They’ve got good players and we know that they will come and have a real clear identity and a clear way of playing and we have to make sure that we’re ready for that and get the game on our terms.
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“They’ve invested well in their team, this time around and credit to them, as a football club.
“They’re a really good example of a club having aspirations to get into the Football League and the way that they’ve grown the club off the pitch has helped the team, on the pitch.”
Owura Edwards (Image: STEVE BRADING)
Colchester took four points from six against Bromley, last season.
Owura Edwards’ fourth-minute strike gave the U’s victory when the sides met at Hayes Lane in January while the match between the two teams at the Community Stadium last September ended 1-1, with Edwards cancelling out Michael Cheek’s opener for the Ravens.
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Cowley continued: “We play a really powerful, aggressive team.
“We’ve got to make sure we do all we can to get the game on our terms.
“If we can do that, we believe we can get on the right side of it.
READ MORE: Danny Cowley’s ‘evolving’ Colchester side are a step up on last year
“We play a Bromley team and a Bromley club who have just gone from strength to strength really.
“I remember back in the day, there would never have been 1,000 supporters in the stadium, so what they’ve done there as a club and the way they’ve built their ground and the way they’ve built the training facilities surrounding the ground, the way Andy Woodman has developed the team and got them promoted from non-league into the Football League has been incredible.
“There’s definitely a lot to admire.”
