Head coach Nelson Jardim was left satisfied following his side’s hard-fought 1-1 draw with Bromley on Tuesday night.
A first-half header from Cameron Evans—his fourth league goal of the campaign—had put the Exiles ahead, but a late equaliser from the league’s leading goalscorer, Michael Cheek, ensured the points were shared at Rodney Parade.
“We knew it was going to be a battle and we had to be up for it,” Jardim said post-match.
“They are a very physical team, and you could see that from the first whistle. From the beginning, we felt the energy from the fans, and fair play to them—we’ve been in a tough run, but they helped us stay competitive and ready for the battle.
“They’ve taken points from teams at the top of the table, so we knew they would give us problems, but I thought our boys did very well.
"They were organised, competed well, and in the first half, I think we were the better side, so it was probably fair to be leading at the break.
“In the second half, they were direct, forcing balls down the channels, which kept us a little deeper at times. We knew it was going to be tough, and when they scored, it made the game more open.
"There were moments where we had space to counter, and with a little more quality, we could have nicked something.
“When you don’t win, it’s always disappointing, but we have to focus on the positives—like Keenan Patten making his first league start. Moments like that are massive for us as a club.”
Looking ahead, Jardim acknowledged the challenge of the next upcoming fixture - a trip to relegation-threatned Carlisle United.
“The next game will be very tough, away from home, and we know what kind of atmosphere it will be. We have to show that we are up for it and put in a strong performance.”
