Forest Green Rovers will mark their return to League Two by taking on Salford City in the season opener on Saturday.

The visitors missed out on promotion from the fourth tier's playoffs last season, and they will be hoping to push on once again.

Match preview

Having been promoted to the EFL for the first time in their history in 2017, Forest Green were performing well ahead of schedule to reach the third tier by winning League Two two seasons ago.

For a club of their modest stature, avoiding relegation in League One was always likely to be a difficult task, particularly after losing their head coach Rob Edwards to Watford ahead of the campaign. The 40-year-old has since proven his pedigree by guiding Luton Town to the Premier League.

Having lost 31 of their 46 league games, finishing a distant bottom in League One in the process, new head coach David Horseman has a major job on his hands to restore a winning mentality at The New Lawn this season.

However, with the likes of Matty Taylor and Mathew Stevens at his disposal in attack, the former Southampton B boss should have enough about him to keep his side competitive towards the right end of the table. Saturday's opener against a potential promotion rival will be a major test for world-renowned green energy-centric club.

Indeed, Salford would have watched Forest Green's title-winning campaign with green envy themselves, having failed to climb out of League Two since gaining promotion from the National League in 2019.

However, they came closer than ever before under Neil Wood's management last time out, pipping Mansfield to the final playoff spot on goal difference, before losing to Stockport County on penalties in the semi-final.

As has often been the case as one of the more lavishly-backed teams in the division, the former Manchester United Under-23s boss has been able to make some eye-catching additions during the summer transfer window so far, with Curtis Tilt and Luke Garbutt dropping down a level to join the Ammies from Wigan Athletic and Blackpool respectively.

Wood will be fully expected to achieve a playoff spot as a worst case scenario once again, but with the quality at his disposal, an automatic promotion push could be on the cards. Returning from Gloucestershire with all three points on Saturday would certainly boost confidence of achieving that.

Team News

Horseman will almost certainly look to build from the front this season, with Taylor and Stevens potentially set to form a devastating striking partnership.

Taylor, who has rejoined Forest Green after playing for them between 2011 and 2014, scored 27 goals in 46 matches for Bristol Rovers in his last season at this level, while Stevens' 23-goal haul was instrumental in helping the Greens lift the title two seasons ago before his injury issues last time out.

Salford, meanwhile, are expected to hand debuts to Garbutt, Tilt, Alex Cairns and Connor McLennan, who arrives with plenty of interest after joining from Aberdeen.

Wood is yet to name a club captain after the departure of Ibou Touray to Stockport, with experienced defender Tilt the prime candidate to take that mantle.

Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:
Daniels; Bernard, Inniss, Godwin-Malife, Robson; Garrick, Jenks, McCann, McAllister; Stevens, Taylor

Salford City possible starting lineup:
Cairns; Shephard, Leak, Tilt, Garbutt; Watt, Mallan; Bolton, McAleny, McLennan; Hendry

We say: Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Salford City

Both teams possess plenty of firepower, but Salford appear more likely to have a stronger overall balance throughout their team, especially with the additions they have made to their defensive unit.

However, Horseman will be keen to make a strong first impression in his first game in charge at Forest Green, and we can envisage both managers being content with sharing the spoils in the opening game of the season.

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