After gaining their first three points in 15 games on Tuesday night, Forest Green Rovers will be looking to continue their momentum as they travel to Crawley Town on Saturday.
The win came as a huge shock, with the Green defeating high-flyers Barrow away from home. As a result, they look as if they’re back in the survival fight. Now just six points behind both Colchester and Grimsby Town, Steve Cotterill will be hoping that his side can further close the gap to the teams directly above them.
They seem to have found a good opportunity to do just that, as they travel to an out of form Crawley Town. Scott Lindsey’s side are currently on a four match winless run, and have slipped down to 15th as a result. It looks as if they’re now destined for mid-table obscurity with it highly unlikely that they’ll be involved in the relegation battle nor the fight for the play-offs.
Despite that four match winless run, they did put out a decent enough performance at home to Walsall and will be favourites coming into the clash. If they’re at their best, it is very much a winnable game which could get the Red Devils back to form.
In the reverse fixture, Forest Green would come from behind to win 2-1, one of just five wins for the club this season. They’ll be looking to do the double over their opponents and the morale in the squad would’ve no doubt been boosted following the win over Barrow.
With that in mind, here are how two of The Real EFL writer’s team see this playing out…
“The situation at Forest Green is looking a lot more positive than it was at this point last week. Beating Barrow under the lights came as a huge shock and it perhaps sent a message to the other teams in the relegation battle that they are not going to go down without a fight.
It was a huge result for Steve Cotterill, who is now up and running as manager and he’ll be looking to prove that Tuesday’s result was neither a one-off nor a fluke. Back-to-back victories are a distinct possibility and Forest Green may be able to take advantage of an out-of-form Crawley Town.
Crawley are however due a win and they may well be able to get back to winning ways on Saturday. However I expect Forest Green to harness that winning momentum from Tuesday night, and gain all three points here.”
Crawley Town 1-2 Forest Green Rovers
“Crawley have had a strong season compared to where many pre-season predictions put them, however, their good start, and the momentum that gave them, has worn off. After picking up two wins in their first two games of 2024, they have gone on a run seeing them winless in five in all competitions. They are in that mid-table where a run of wins could see them close the gap to the top seven, and they are comfortably safe from relegation from the football league. Their opposition this weekend, are not afforded that same safety.
Forest Green’s season has gone from bad to worse since August, however, they will hope that they’ve gone from worse to bad after their midweek victory against promotion-hopefuls Barrow. Steve Cotteril’s time in charge had not started well, although there will now be new hope after picking up their first league win since this reverse fixture in October.
On paper, this is the home side’s to lose. The visiting fans will be hoping to take the momentum into this, but I doubt it will be enough. This seems the perfect game for Crawley to turn their recent fortunes round.”
Crawley Town 3-1 Forest Green Rovers
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