Forest Green Rovers are set to welcome a bumper crowd into the New Lawn Stadium as their manager Rob Edwards calls for both players and fans to work in harmony to get the stadium rocking.
Top of the table Green Devils host Gloucestershire rivals Bristol Rovers on Saturday as they look to extend their lead at the top of League Two.
Despite a 2-0 win on Tuesday night Rob Edwards wasn’t wholly satisfied with what he saw from his team and thinks there are improvements that his side can make: “We need to start faster than against Barrow on Tuesday, we were too slow and nice, we weren’t quick enough, the players did well to flick a switch it’s a Derby so I think the game will have more intensity.”
One of Forest Green’s stars this season Kane Wilson suffered an ankle injury during the game against Barrow.
The right back has registered four goals and two assists so far this campaign.
Edwards offered some relief to Rovers fans: “We’re still a couple of days off the game, he (Kane Wilson) can feel it, it’s too early to right him off, he’s walking around ok so fingers crossed and we’ll see how he is tomorrow.”
Bristol Rovers are a side who seem to have found their feet under new manager Joey Barton after a difficult start to the season. The Gas have lost just one of their last eight games and are unbeaten in four.
“They’ve got real threats at the top end of the pitch, they will try and get it forward.
“They were a back four against Salford and it could be the same on Saturday.
“They were very good for large periods of their game against Salford. They’ve got fantastic support. Footballers want to play in big games, it’s a tasty one”, Edward said.
Before Tuesday night’s game the Green Army had only been able to see their side once at home in the league for a month.
The Forest Green boss is hoping that a bumper crowd can create a similar atmosphere to the second half against Barrow, “I thought the whole ground was flat in the first half, we needed to bounce off each other, we upped the tempo and in the second half the atmosphere was excellent.”
Forest Green find themselves five points clear of Exeter at the top of League Two and are unbeaten in seven games.
When asked about his sides excellent start to the season and imperious league position Edwards said: “We’ve got to be relentless in both boxes, we need to do everything right, 17 games is nowhere near the finished article. After 17 games to only lose two is great, we’ve been consistent.”
Forest Green Rovers face Bristol Rovers on Saturday 27.
