Woodgate wants Cherries fans to be loud and proud for Brentford batttle

Clearly pumped up by a huge victory, he ended his post-match club interview by proclaiming: “Up the Cherries!”

Supporters expressed their love for the Cherries head coach that night.

Replies to that post included “all aboard the Woodgate wagon” and “what a man” to simply “we love you Jonathan”.

But, in a life of COVID-19 restrictions, Woodgate has not yet had the chance to see fans on matchdays in person.

His first face-to-face date with the club’s faithful is set for the biggest of nights.

• PICTURES: Fans and action from the last time Cherries made the play-offs

Cherries have earned the chance to play in front of their supporters in the Championship play-off semi-finals.

They take on Brentford at Vitality Stadium tomorrow (6pm), with just more than 2,000 fans, who were selected at random in a ballot, set to be in attendance.

It will also be the first time Woodgate’s new coaching staff Gary O’Neill and Joe Jordan have been with the club, since supporters were permitted to return.

And on his first night piloting his troops in front of a live crowd, Woodgate has asked those in attendance to be loud and proud.

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“I can’t wait, honestly,” he said, when asked about supporters returning.

“It’ll be different because we obviously haven’t had fans in for a while but it’s something that I cannot wait for.

“I cannot wait to hear the fans getting behind the players. I’ve played at this stadium before when the fans do get behind the players, it doesn’t half make it loud.

“I know it’s not going to be full but I’m sure the fans coming will make it loud and it will be a good atmosphere.

“We need every single supporter coming in to be really positive and get behind the team. I’m sure they will.”

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Cherries played two contests in front of limited crowds when coronavirus restrictions permitted back in December.

Then under Jason Tindall, the Dorset outfit certainly entertained, with a 5-0 victory over Huddersfield and a 1-0 success against Wycombe.

And Woodgate has even been told by his squad how much of an impact Cherries’ supporters can have.

“The players tell me how good they are when we are playing here and how much they get behind the team,” he added.

“We know the fans that are coming in are going to be loud and on our side. I can’t wait to have them in our stadium.”

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Cherries have lost twice against Brentford in league action this season – both times in front of empty arenas.

Asked how much of a difference he thought the supporters could make at home against the Bees, former England defender Woodgate said: “A huge difference. We know what it’s like when fans are in the stadium, hopefully it’s a positive one for us.”