Match Preview: Forest Green Rovers (A)

County will look to put Tuesday’s result behind them as we hit the road again this Saturday. We make the short trip across the water to Forest Green Rovers. Our encounters with Forest Green have been fiery in recent seasons, and Saturday’s encounter promises to be another memorable one.

Will Evans will hope to continue his fine scoring form since the start of the season. He grabbed his third of the season and fourth in all competitions in our game against Crewe this past weekend, and Coughlan will hope he can continue his fine form in the Cotswolds. His link-up play with Seb Palmer Houlden has been exceptional over the last three matches, with the two men firmly establishing themselves in the manager’s starting 11. 

Manager’s Comments 

"We need to bounce back, we need to respond (from Tuesday's defeat). We got one after the Accrington game and I've got confidence in the lads that we will get another response tomorrow.

"Forest Green will be a stern test, they've got really strong, powerful players." Added Graham.

"They're always adding to their squad with knowledge and expertise, shown in Troy Deeney coming in alongside Matty Taylor. That's a strike partnership that belongs in the higher divisions so I think they are a very dangerous team.

"They've got a lot of power at the back too with Ryan Inniss and his set pieces who we know well from his time here at Newport. So we are expecting a good challenge."

Watch Graham Coughlan's full pre-match press conference here:

Opposition Form 

Forest Green Rovers have had a mixed start back to life in League Two following last season’s relegation. They have lost both of their home league games and won their only away game. 

A 94th-minute goal from Frazer Blake-Tracy saw Swindon Town snatch three points at The New Lawn on Tuesday night, with Harvey Bunker also seeing red for the hosts and ruling himself out of Saturday’s game. 

Talismanic striker Matty Stevens will be Forest Green’s biggest threat at the weekend. The returning star has netted in his last two games for the club, including the winner in last weekend’s away victory at Harrogate. 

Ticket Info 

Ticket prices for our trip to Forest Green are as follows: 

You can purchase tickets online here. 

Exiles that live outside of the UK can keep up with all of the action on video using iFollow. UK residents who can not attend the game will be able to listen to the commentary using the service. Find out more information about iFollow here. 

You can find out everything you need to know about getting to The New Lawn for Saturday’s encounter in our Exiles on the Road guide. 

Last Time Out 

Our last encounter with Forest Green came during the Football League Trophy last season. Our opponents picked up the win that evening, with goals from Ben Stevenson and Bryan Fiabeme handing them the victory, while Will Evans got his name on the score-sheet for us. 

The last time we met in a League Two encounter was a little more successful. We were able to put a temporary halt on Forest Green’s title celebrations when a goal from Finn Azaz held them to a 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade.

Head to Head 

We have had 23 encounters with Forest Green Rovers dating back to 2010. Forest Green have marginally had the better of us over those games, winning eight to our six. Nine encounters between us have ended in draws. 

Played for Both 

There have been plenty of players that have swapped the amber and black of Newport County for the green and black of Forest Green over the years, and vice versa. 

A former County player that is likely to be starting against us this weekend is defender Ryan Inniss. Inniss signed for Rovers this summer following a successful spell at Charlton Athletic. He lined up for us 22 times in the 2020/21 campaign, one of the multiple loan spells he was sent on by his former club Crystal Palace. 

Another striker that has found himself playing at the New Lawn after leaving us was hometown boy, Aaron Collins. Collins played for Newport twice before going on to play 72 games for Forest Green. He is now electrifying League One with his terrific performances at Bristol Rovers. 

A high-profile signing that left us for Forest Green Rovers was Jamille Matt. Matt would play 76 games, scoring 20 goals before joining Rovers in 2020. He would spend three years in Nailsworth before signing for Walsall this Summer. 

Of course, one man that will be with us this weekend who also played for Forest Green is kit-man and club legend David Pipe. Pipe captained Rovers for two seasons in the National League, leading them to the playoffs on both occasions. He returned to Rodney Parade in 2017 before retiring in 2019. 

Digging even further back, another local legend that has played for both teams is Darren Jones. Jones played ten games for Rovers between his two successful spells at Newport.