Get the lowdown on our next opponents: Forest Green Rovers.
The Opposition
Since suffering back-to-back relegations, Forest Green Rovers have looked a completely different outfit to the one that demised back into the fifth tier two years ago.
The Gloucestershire-based outfit found themselves sinking at a rapid rate after spending seven seasons in the Football League, initially gaining promotion to League Two for the first time in their history under the guidance of Mark Cooper, who led the club to a historic triumph over Tranmere Rovers in the play-off final.
The world’s first fully vegan club since managed to hit new heights, with five successive years in the fourth tier preceding their highest ever finish after gaining promotion to League One, with current Wolverhampton Wanderers boss, Rob Edwards, guiding them to the League Two title, although his premature departure to Watford led to the Green suffering an instant drop back into League Two, and put them on a path back to the National League after Ian Burchnall and Duncan Ferguson both failed to save the club, before hectic 2023/24 campaign saw David Horseman, Troy Deeney and finally Steve Cotterill all hedge their bets in an attempt to avoid another drop, something which failed to come to fruition as Forest Green embarked on a journey back to the EFL after seven years in it.
However, they went close at the first attempt, with Cotterill guiding the club to a third-place finish last term, before suffering heartbreak at the semi-final stage at the hands of eventual runners-up Southend United, with Gus Scott-Morriss’ final spot-kick in the shootout condemning the Green to another year in the fifth tier, as well as costing Cotterill his job last summer.
The arrival of Robbie Savage from National League North side Macclesfield has allowed them to maintain their position towards the top end of the National League though, with Rovers gaining plaudits for their free-flowing style of football as well as the quality that they have put on show throughout the campaign.
Kyle McAllister has continued to be a crucial cog in the heart of the team at The New Lawn, firing home another eight goals in all competitions so far, while former Macclesfield trio Tre Pemberton, Laurent Mendy and Neil Kengni have all remained consistent figures once again under Savage, with only Tom Knowles making more appearances this season. Ryan Inniss has also maintained his stellar work from previous seasons at the back, now being joined by new faces Harry Isted in goal along with centre back partner Abraham Kanu, with their tally of 24 goals conceded bettered only by Boreham Wood (22), Rochdale (16) and Southend United (18), allowing freedom in attack to the likes of McAllister, Nick Haughton, Jayden Clarke, Jilu Buyabu, Kairo Mitchell and Temi Babalola, along with recent recruit Ricardo Rees from Merthyr Town, with the 26-year old already notching two goals on his debut against FC Halifax Town.
The Manager
Robbie Savage
Former Wales international Robbie Savage was named as Steve Cotterill’s replacement in the summer, with the 50-year old opting to depart Macclesfield following the Silkmen’s promotion to the National League North.
A former midfielder, Savage is a well-known ex-player having started in the renowned Manchester United academy, before turning out for Crewe Alexandra, Leicester City, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Derby County and Brighton & Hove Albion during his senior career, making a name for himself at the highest level of domestic football with 346 Premier League appearances.
After hanging up his boots in 2008, Savage largely turned his attention to punditry, working for the likes of BBC Sport and TNT Sport, before a brief return to football with Stockport Town led to his involvement with the creation of phoenix club Macclesfield, following the unfortunate demise of Macclesfield Town,
This saw him briefly take over as caretaker boss in Cheshire, having been initially appointed as a member of the board, before taking on the role permanently in June 2024. Under his leadership, the Silkmen secured promotion to the National League North after defeating Bamber Bridge, becoming champions of the Northern Premier League Premier Division in his first full season at the club.
However, Savage would never manage a game at sixth tier level with the Silkmen, opting to move up another division to the National League, with Cotterill’s departure from Forest Green after failing to gain promotion leading to Savage’s arrival at The New Lawn in the summer.
He has gone on to take to life in the fifth tier like a duck to water, with Rovers sitting fourth in the division with a two-point gap to league leaders York City, having lost just three games all season, as well as guiding them to the fifth round of the Isuzu FA Trophy and second round of the Emirates FA Cup, dramatically losing against League One side Luton Town in the latter despite a stellar late comeback.
One to Watch
Kyle McAllister
Scotland youth international Kyle McAllister has continued to be a thorn in the side of many National League sides this season, and has now made well over 150 appearances for the Green.
Born in Paisley, Scotland, a brief stint in the Rangers academy preceded a move to St Mirren where he rose through the ranks, and subsequently made 14 appearances for the club’s First Team, before interest from a number of English clubs saw him make the switch to Championship club Derby County in 2017.
He subsequently spent two years at Pride Park, but after being unable to break into the side returned to St Mirren initially on loan, before making the move permanent in 2019, and he went on to make a total of 111 appearances for the Buddies over a further three years at the club.
McAllister departed St Mirren Park for a second time following a loan move to Partick Thistle, and returned to England with a switch to Forest Green in 2022, joining the then-League One side following their promotion to third tier. He has gone on to represent the Green in every division from the third tier to the fifth tier as well as enjoying his most productive spell since arriving in Gloucestershire, contributing ten goals and ten assists last term, before adding a further eight and four so far this season.
Recent Form
Ebbsfleet United 0-2 Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers 2-1 FC Halifax Town
Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Truro City
Brackley Town 1-0 Forest Green Rovers
Yeovil Town 0-2 Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers 4-0 Weston-super-Mare
Last Time Out
Forest Green Rovers advanced to the fifth round of the FA Trophy after goals from Isaac Moore and Abraham Kanu secured a 2-0 win away at Ebbsfleet United.
In a first half that both sides had chances in, Robbie Savage’s side took the lead through Moore as he followed up a blocked first attempt to strike through multiple bodies and beat Johnathan Macaulay.
Ebbsfleet had the majority of the opportunities in the second half, with Josh Passley, Maxx Manktelow and Kwesi Appiah all going close.
However, as the clock moved towards ninety, Rovers finished the job as Laurent Mendy’s cross found Kanu in the box to head home from six yards out and finish the tie.
