It will be a big night and I think we’re going to turn up for the occasion, says Bromley captain Jack Holland

BROMLEY captain Jack Holland has challenged his team-mates to create something special tomorrow night to earn a trip to Rochdale in The FA Cup First Round.

Neil Smith’s side came away from their Vanarama National League rivals Dover Athletic with a goalless draw on Saturday, to earn a Fourth Qualifying Round Replay at Hayes Lane on Tuesday night.

Holland partnered new signing, former Charlton Athletic defender Roger Johnson, 34, at the heart of defence and they ensured they shut-out a direct Dover side that went into the game in second-place in the table.

“Dover are the same anywhere they go, I think everyone knows that,” said Holland.

“It’s going to be another direct battle.  I think we’re prepared for that on our home patch.

“We’ll get a good crowd down at Hayes Lane, even though it’s a Tuesday night. It will be a big night and I think we’re going to turn up for the occasion.

“It’s going to be the same sort of game and we’ve got players who can create something out of nothing.   We have that spark so as long as we’re doing that defensive side, which we did on Saturday, something will happen for us.  It’s going to come so we’ll focus on doing the right stuff first, the basics and getting magic up top.”

The Emirates FA Cup First Round Draw was made this evening and should Bromley send Chris Kinnear’s side crashing out of The FA Cup then they will travel to Rochdale in the First Round (3-6 November 2017).

Rochdale are presently fifth-from-bottom in the Sky Bet League One table with two wins and six draws after 13 games and within the relegation zone tonight are AFC Wimbledon, Gillingham, Northampton Town and Plymouth Argyle.

“I’ve been here five years and I’m pretty sure we’ve always had someone better or higher in the league than us but we’ll deal with that,” said Holland, on the prospect of facing Rochdale.

“We relish the chance for these competitions because anything can happen and we do see ourselves as a side challenging for promotion this year so anyone who comes to us or comes against us we’re confident in ourselves, hopefully we’ll get the win on Tuesday night.”

Bromley’s last FA Cup First Round win was back in 1945 and they have never defeated a Football League outfit in the competition.

Bromley welcome Dover Athletic to Hayes Lane on Tuesday night sitting in seventh-place in the Vanarama National League table with 24 points from 15 games. 

The Lillywhites are unbeaten in three, while Dover Athletic are seven unbeaten going into the winner-takes-all showdown.

“We’re seen as underdogs and we relish that,” said Holland.

“I think people think we are, we don’t as a club and as a team. We believe in ourselves and if you don’t believe in yourselves, who else will believe in you?

“We do get a lot of stick from other people, they had us down in the bottom four, just above the bottom this year as a prediction and do you know what? That will spur us on even more and we know what we’ve got in the camp.  I think we’ll surprise a few people this year.”

When asked whether he will step up to take a penalty tomorrow night if the tie goes all the way, naturally, Holland, who lives in West Wickham, will not let down his home-town club.

“Will I take a penalty? If it came down to it, I would, but I won’t be first on the list!”

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.tv

Bromley  v  Dover Athletic
The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round Replay
Tuesday 17^th October 2017
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF