Relegation favourites Forest Green Rovers face Bristol Rovers at The New Lawn in League One on Saturday in a crucial fixture for the hosts.

Duncan Ferguson is yet to win since arriving as manager, and time is running out for last season's League Two champions to avoid the drop.

Match preview

Forest Green remain rooted to the bottom of the League One table, cut adrift, seven points below the nearest side to them, and 11 from safety altogether having played two games more.

The statistics are damning too, as Forest Green have the leakiest defence in the division, while only Cheltenham Town have scored fewer.

A win against their upcoming opponents in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season remains their only away victory of the season, and they fell to defeat again on the road at the weekend.

It was a particularly damaging loss too, considering the side who beat them was Accrington Stanley, a side who started the day in the relegation zone with them.

That result means FGR have taken just two points from a possible 21 under Ferguson's stewardship in his first full-time managerial role after a lengthy spell on Everton's coaching staff.

The side will be devastated to have not picked up more points given the manner of some of their recent games.

Conceding two injury-time goals saw them lose 2-1 at Shrewsbury Town in Ferguson's first game in charge, and an 89th-minute equaliser meant they threw two points away late on against Morecambe.

This fixture will be vital for the hosts considering they have the top two sides in the league, Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday, next up.

Bristol Rovers have eased any fears of relegation in the last week, with back-to-back clean sheets helping them end a woeful run of form.

Before this week, they had lost six games out of seven, with just one draw to show for themselves in that period.

A home draw with Barnsley and a big win at Oxford United has moved them nine points clear of trouble, still with a game in hand.

Manager Joey Barton has always tried to make his Bristol Rovers side stubborn to play against and they have rediscovered that defensive stability after some bruising defeats.

Their aim will now be to consolidate their mid-table position and build upon that in the summer.

Team News

Ben Stevenson and Jahmari Clarke could make a return to the squad for Forest Green after the duo missed their defeat at Accrington.

Oliver Casey is suspended after he was sent off in the first half of that game, so Baily Cargill could come in after recently returning from injury.

Everton loanee Tyler Onyango remains on the treatment table having made just three appearances since following Ferguson from Merseyside.

Barton made wholesale changes to his Bristol Rovers side for the win over Oxford United, and it paid off with that 3-0 success.

The manager stuck with a similar team against Barnsley and he may do the same again here.

Paul Coutts may come back into the side to replace Grant Ward, while Ryan Loft and Luke McCormick are in contention following recent returns.

Jordan Rossiter, Josh Grant and Harry Anderson are the three players still out injured for Bristol Rovers.

Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:
Doohan; Godwin-Malife, Cargill, Cooper, Robson; McGeouch, Savage, O'Keeffe, Peart-Harris, Garrick; Bakayoko

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Belshaw; Hoole, Quansah, Gibson, Gordon; Bogarde, Finley, Coutts; Sinclair, Marquis, Collins

We say: Forest Green Rovers 0-1 Bristol Rovers

The hosts are in dire need of a win as the gap between themselves and safety already looks close to unassailable.

Bristol Rovers will hope their improved defence can help them towards three points on the road here.


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