Forest Green Preview

After 2 home wins on the bounce, Boro are back on the road on Saturday when they travel to Gloucestershire to face Forest Green Rovers. Jim Harvey’s side are currently on a bad run of form, losing 3 of their last 4 matches and find themselves mid table after the opening 9 games. Injury problems have hit the club, with Harvey only being able to name 4 substitutes for last weeks 0-0 draw away at Northwich. Club captain John Hardiker will miss the game as he has been ruled out for two months after ruptering his knee ligaments. Midfielder Lee Fowler will also miss the game after being sent off last weekend at Northwich.

Boro meanwhile are finding their form which eluded them in the opening weeks of the season. Funnily enough it seems the two clubs fortunes have reversed in recent weeks. FGR were top not long ago before the recent poor run has seen them fall down to 12th. Boro are now beginning to string some results together after a poor start and with 3 points this weekend could move up to 13th after being in the relegation zone for much of the campaign so far. No new injuries have been reported as yet, but it does look like Daryl McMahon will miss the game after picking up a knock in the 3-0 win over Altrincham. Mitchell Cole should come in for him on the left while Graham Westley is expected to keep an otherwise unchanged team.

If the result goes to the form book, then Boro should beat their opponents, but Jim Harvey’s sides are always difficult to beat and Saturday’s game will be no different. Boro’s record at the New Lawn isn’t that impressive either. In the two visits we have made to the ground since it’s opening in 2006 we have conceded 8 goals, scoring 6. Our first visit in the 2006/2007 season was a thriller. Boro were 3-0 down at one stage, but came back and were 4-3 up until a Lee Dodgson equaliser in the 90th minute made sure FGR got a point. Last season’s fixture between the two sides ended up with the hosts winning 4-2. Boro took the lead thanks to Daryl McMahon, but FGR levelled through Mark Beesley. Santos Gaia put Boro in front again, but Stuart Fleetwood (2) and a further strike from Beesley gave the Gloucstershire side the victory.

Boro are confident at the moment, whilst their opponents are suffering a lot with injury and suspension problems. It could be the best time to play Forest Green and I’m confident that we can go there and win on Saturday. In the last few weeks we have seen a settled side emerge and start playing good, winning football and if they continue to play the way they have done then FGR will find it very difficult. Forest Green have always been capable of conceding goals and they are much less of a goal threat than the last time we played them at the New Lawn as last season’s topscorer Stuart Fleetwood and his striker partner Mark Beesley have both left. Graham Westley will be quietly confident of 3 points come Saturday afternoon.

Prediction: Forest Green 1-2 Boro