GRATEFUL Bromsgrove Sporting boss Keith Draper saluted the club’s supporters this week following their 3-3 draw at Coventry Copsewood.

The Rouslers could have easily buckled after going a goal down within the first minute as Copsewood made a flying start.

Although Sporting clawed their way back, they were trailing 3-1 at half-time — but that’s when the fans really came into play.

Draper said: “Everytime we went forward in the second half, they really got behind us, urging the players on. “Once we got the score back to 3-2, I knew we were going to get something out of the game because the fans and their input was carrying us through.

“The supporters have been a massive plus for us all season.

“I know money’s tight at the moment, but we still had 50 to 60 supporters travel to Coventry and shout us on.

“In fact they’ve been there for us all season. “We must be averaging between 275 to 330 for home games. They have their favourites, but they get behind all the players and I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank them all.

“We could have ended up winning at Copsewood. Nick Harris came off the bench and headed against the post in the last minute. He could have become an instant hero!

“It was a niggly sort of game against Copsewood and I thought the referee was poor for both sides.

“I told my players at half-time to get off his back and stop talking to him — accept the decisions and move away.”

Sporting play hosts to Bolehall Swifts on Saturday (3pm), where a win could take Draper’s men into the top-four.

The Sporting boss said: “The objective this season is to make sure we get into the FA Vase and that means we have to make sure we finish in the top 10. “Qualifying for the Vase is an absolute must this season.”