Forest Green Rovers manager Steve Cotterill talks about the fans as he said “You’ve just got to back your team” ahead of their match up with York City on Saturday.
FGR are currently second in the National League and will face York City on Saturday who sit one point clear in first.
Cotterill has called upon the Forest Green fans ahead of Saturday, “I would say to any club and any support that I’ve ever had behind me or behind my team, you’ve just got to back your team no matter what, that’s how I see it.”
FGR’s average attendance is around 1,745 spectators per game compared to York who see approximately 4600 spectators, notably more than Cotterill’s side.
“Obviously, we don’t get the numbers that perhaps York City get when you look at their attendances this season.
“It’s been first class but we don’t have those numbers.”
Despite having less support on the surface than York, Cotterill doesn’t seem to be worried as he said, “They can still make it difficult for opposing teams that come here.
“Unless you’ve ever been a player, it’s really, really difficult when you go to a ground and you know that every time you go and take a throw in, someone’s going to be on you.
“Every time you miss kick, someone’s going to be on you.
“Every time you lose a duel, someone’s going to be on you.”
The presence of fans is arguably one of the most important aspects of a game as it can add pressures to both teams to perform.
York finished last season 20th, but have turned their form around this season, having only lost one game out of 17.
“Congratulations to their manager [Adam Hinshelwood] and their players and club for what looks a team heading in the right direction.
“It’s a big club. I think that they’ve spent a fair bit of money over the last couple of years, perhaps without getting what they would have wanted out of their league position. That sounds a bit familiar, doesn’t it?”
Back home this weekend! 🏟️#WeAreFGR💚
— Forest Green Rovers (@FGRFC_Official) November 14, 2024
When asked about the game on Saturday, Cotterill said, “Big game on Saturday, one versus two. It’s been bigged up.
“They’ll [the fans] always big it up when the top two play, and probably in every other division as well at the moment.
“It won’t make any difference to our preparation for the game.
“We’ll be more focused about ourselves, really. It’s important what we do at the weekend.”
Teddy Jenks came off injured in FGR’s last match against Maidenhead United after scoring a great goal but won’t be up to full match fitness on Saturday.
“He’ll need games, he’ll need minutes to get up to that.
“So, I think at the moment with Teddy, I think we need to go for a little period with him now where he’s not injured, certainly after coming back over that period of time.
“But he was great last week when he went on. He picked up a bit of a knock in training yesterday that was a little bit of a worry. We think we’ll probably be all right with that one.”
Liam Sercombe and Emmanuel Osadebe are also on the injury list for FGR with questions surrounding whether they’ll be back this weekend or not, “Whether they’re around for this weekend or not, I genuinely at this moment in time, I wouldn’t be too sure on that.”
Although there are a few injuries for Cotterill’s side, he is stuck for choice when it comes to forwards saying ‘what a nice problem it is to have.
“I go to them with my thoughts and I explain my thoughts to them.
“They will all get games throughout the season and it will be on the moment of the decision of who plays against who, really. They’ll all get a run and hopefully when they get a bit of a run, they’re nice and fresh.
“I think it’s always important for strikers to, number one, have competition and number two, to be confident.
“Obviously, all three of them would want to play. There’s nothing I can do about that. I didn’t have that problem last year. But I say a problem, it’s only a problem in terms of the ones that you’re not playing, you feel as though you’re letting them down a little bit.”
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