Match Preview - Forest Green Rovers (H)

10 August 2023

Fresh from midweek cup triumph Town will go in search of a third successive win to start the 2023/24 season when Forest Green Rovers visit the Envirovent Stadium this Saturday.

The 1-0 win against Carlisle, rewarded with a home tie against Championship side Blackburn Rovers in round two, came on the back of the opening day victory by the same scoreline at Doncaster Rovers a week ago.

FIXTURE INFORMATION

And with fixtures coming thick and fast there is the opportunity for Simon Weaver’s side to lay down an early marker over the coming weeks.

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Our opponents

After storming to promotion as champions of League Two in 2021/22 Rovers suffered an immediate relegation after losing key figures such as Kane Wilson and Nicky Cadden as well as manager Rob Edwards, who went on to guide Luton Town to the Premier League.

They finished bottom of the table, amassing 27 points and winning six league fixtures.

Hopes of an immediate return to the third tier got off to a bad start when they were defeated 2-0 at home to Salford last weekend, although they put in a creditable display in their Carabao Cup exit to Portsmouth in midweek.

Previous meetings

In 2020/21 a Jamille Matt goal on the hour mark was enough to earn Forest Green a 1-0 win at The Envirovent Stadium before goals from Chris Stokes and Kane Wilson secured a 2-1 victory at The New Lawn.

The following season saw Town defeated 4-1 at home, with a Lloyd Kerry effort a consolation after strikes from Jack Aitchison, Nicky Cadden, Jamille Matt and Matt Stevens. They did grab an end of season victory on the road though with Kerry again on the scoresheet in a 3-1 victory.

The man in charge

David Horseman was recently appointed to the job, following the eve of season departure of Duncan Ferguson and a caretaker spell from Hannah Dingley.

Horseman initially had coaching spells as Bristol City and Watford before joining Southampton where he held a number of roles including guiding the Saints to the Premier League 2 Division 2 title.

Ones to watch

It is a much-changed Rovers squad from the one that last faced Town with 11 new arrivals this summer alone, including Marcel Lavinier, Darnell Johnson, Jacob Maddox and Alfie Bendle who all arrived on permanent deals over the past week and Dylan Kadji who joined on loan from Bristol City.

A key presence in midfield will be Charlie McCann, who arrived from Rangers this summer after previously being at Manchester United.

Matt Stevens is back leading the line after spending the second-half of last season on loan at Walsall, likely alongside Tyrese Omotoye. Dom Bernard was named the new captain this summer, and he will feature at the back along with Jordan Moore-Taylor.

History

A non-league club for virtually all of their existence since being founded in 1889, fortunes were turned around following investment from Dale Vince and after near misses in 2015 and 2016, the club earned promotion to the Football League in 2017.

They reached the League Two playoffs in both the 2018/19 and 2020/21 seasons, being defeated at the semi-final stage on both occasions before securing a first promotion to the third tier in 2021/22, before dropping back to League Two at the first attempt.

Team news

Long-term absentee Stephen Dooley is unavailable for Simon Weaver and there will be a check on Rod McDonald, who missed the midweek win after an eye injury at Doncaster.

Match Previews

Match Reports

TOWN 0-1 Forest Green Rovers - Town suffer first defeat of the season

Matt Stevens strike just after the break was enough to send Town to a 1-0 home reversal

12 August 2023

Town’s unbeaten start to the season was brought to an end thanks to a Matthew Stevens strike less than a minute into the second half.

The goal cancelled out a largely even opening forty-five minutes and despite some flashes after falling behind Town struggled to establish a foothold to get themselves back on level terms.

Town were forced into one change to the side won on opening day at Doncaster due to Rod McDonald’s injury. He was replaced by Warren Burrell, one of the players who shone in the midweek victory against. There was also a return to the bench for striker Luke Armstrong.

The visitors made two changes from their previous league game with Dylan Kadji and Jamie Robson coming into midfield, with new signings Alfie Bendle and Jacob Maddox named on the bench.

And it was Rovers who started the brightest of the two sides, with midfield pairing Kyle McAllister and Charlie McCann ensuring the lions share of possession in the opening stages.

It was Town that had the crowd off their feet first though. The pace of Sam Folarin down the right saw him ease past his man and he delivered a telling low cross that Ryan Inniss had to be at full stretch to turn behind for a corner.

The visitors went close midway through the first half when a lovely reverse pass from McCann freed Tyrese Omotoye and his shot forced Mark Oxley into a save with his feet to keep the game goalless.

Abraham Odoh tried his luck from distance on the half-hour mark but his effort from distance was well wide of the target and summed up a slightly frustrating period for Town, who were struggling to impose themselves on the game.

Callum Jones was shown the first yellow card of the day ten minutes before the break for a cynical hack down of James Daly.

Folarin’s pace was again at the fore just before the break when Jack Muldoon’s tenacity saw Town break with purpose. Folarin burst past the back line before crashing a shot on target that Luke Daniels parried to safety.

Less than a minute into the second-half Town found themselves behind. Quick feet from Omotoye saw him cut inside Burrell and his shot on target was diverted past Oxley by Stevens for the lead.

Odoh flashed a shot wide shortly after as Town looked to manufacture a quick response to falling behind for the first time this season.

Rovers made a quick change after the interval with new boy Maddox replacing Kadji with the newly introduced midfielder inducing a yellow card after a Dean Cornelius foul.

Maddox then volleyed just beyond Oxley’s far post before Town made a double change with Armstrong and Matty Daly replacing Muldoon and James Daly.

Maddox’s lively start to his afternoon continued when he was yellow carded for fouling Folarin.

Substitute Daly almost levelled on 65 minutes when he pounced on Odoh’s cross but Daniels was equal to the task and cleared the danger. There was no doubt that Town were looking as lively as they had done as the game headed into the final quarter mark.

Folarin then outpaced the defence yet again and forced Daniels into another save with Simon Weaver introducing Josh Falkingham and Levi Sutton into the midfield engine room.

Despite an additional six minutes the visitors Town only had an Armstrong snapshot to show for their efforts and the visitors closed the game out largely comfortably.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Forest Green (H) Fixture Information

9 August 2023

We welcome Forest Green Rovers to The EnviroVent Stadium on Saturday 12th August for our first home SkyBet League Two fixture of the season.

Simon Weaver's side will be looking to continue their perfect start to the campaign following 1-0 victories against Doncaster and Carlisle.

Tickets

Tickets are on sale online up until kick-off, over the phone or from our Commercial Street Store on Thursday and Friday from 10am-4pm.

BUY NOW

Tickets can be purchased at our advance rate until midnight on Friday 11th August, after which point prices will increase by £2 or £1 depending on category.

Please note our Commercial Street Shop and Ticket Office will be closed on matchday.

Programme

Our first match programme of the season features an interview with Summer signing Rod McDonald and will be on sale from Friday 11th August in our club shop. Programmes will also be available inside the ground on matchday.

How to Follow

If you are unable to attend Saturday's match, updates will be provided across our social media channels and via our Live Match Centre, where text and audio commentary can be accessed.

Junior Membership Launch

To celebrate the launch of our new Junior Membership Scheme and the ongoing school holidays, we have a number of special guests at their fixture against Forest Green this Saturday!

Guests* include…

Barbie
Sonic
Mario
Spiderman

Characters are provided by Rascals Entertainment and will be out and about meeting supporters from 2pm.

Welcome back

To celebrate our first home league fixture of the season, we're reducing all draught pints to £3 from 1.30-2pm in our marquee and EnviroVent Stand Supporters Bars.

Please drink responsibly