Karl Robinson celebrates Salford win which piles promotion pressure on Cambridge
Karl Robinson was full of praise for his Salford players as they ensured their fight for automatic promotion from League Two would head into the final day with a 2-0 win over leaders Bromley.
City clinched a play-off place at the very least and moved into the top three thanks to second-half goals from Jorge Grant and Oliver Turton.
Salford’s win piled the pressure on fourth-placed Cambridge, who are two points off the automatic promotion places with a game in hand, while it also saw already-promoted Bromley lose control of the title race.
Salford head coach Robinson said: “It was a fantastic game. In the first half, both teams stopped each other playing and in the second half, it was about whoever was going to be brave, whoever was going to take their foot off the handbrake and freewheel in some ways.
“We got Jorge Grant narrower and then he started looking like a real threat. It was wonderful to see his goal go in and then we scored a wonderful set-piece goal.
“At half-time, I asked that the strikers get closer together, wide players produced more and wanted the midfield players to play forwards more. We saw those changes in all their glory in the second half.
“We know that Cambridge play Barrow at home and then Crewe away. We have to win our game, but if they win both of theirs, we will have to say well done to them.”
Victory would have seen Bromley go into the final weekend with the title in their hands, but now they must hope MK Dons drop points in one of their last two matches.
Bromley boss Andy Woodman refused to critique his side’s performance, instead choosing to reflect on a historic season which has culminated in them reaching the third tier for the first time.
He said: “I think the players were all waiting for me to go crackers or have a bit of a negative moan, but that’s not happening tonight.
“They’ve been brilliant and they’ll get no negatives from me other than just positives now.
“What a year it’s been for the club. We should pinch ourselves. We are bringing on 18-year-old George Evans as our substitute while Salford are bringing on former Premier League player Fabio Borini.
“That’s not a criticism but that’s just trying to give people the reality of what we’ve achieved here.
“Whatever happens in the last game, let’s just have a celebration. Bromley Football Club are in League One with some big clubs.
“We have not only a special group of footballers, but we have a special group of people. Every one of them is a fantastic human being and I think that’s more important to me than how good a footballer they are.
“The season has been a slog. But a good slog. The big slog starts again, now trying to think about what we do for next year and how we approach that.”