SM
England vs. Ireland: 3 hrs 29 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
FG
League Two | Gameweek 41
Mar 29, 2024 at 3pm UK
The New Lawn
SC

Forest Green
0 - 3
Stockport


Osadebe (33'), Bunker (76')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Camps (18'), Richards (28'), Lemonheigh-Evans (51')

Preview: Forest Green Rovers vs. Stockport County - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Forest Green Rovers vs. Stockport County - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Friday's League Two clash between Forest Green Rovers and Stockport County, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Strugglers Forest Green Rovers will be hoping to cause a major upset when they host promotion-chasing Stockport County on Good Friday.

Forest Green fell to the bottom of the table when losing last time out, while Stockport will head into this match two points behind Mansfield Town at the summit.


Match preview

Indeed, Forest Green are facing the unwanted prospect of back-to-back relegations, having finished rock-bottom in their first ever season in England's third tier last time out.

The Green find themselves in that position once again after losing 2-0 away to Doncaster Rovers last weekend, having been dominated from start to finish at the Eco-Power Stadium. The visitors did not record a single shot on target across the encounter, with Luke Molyneux finally breaking the deadlock after the hour mark before Richard Keogh's late own goal.

Overall, Forest Green have improved since appointing Steve Cotterill as their manager in late January. The former Portsmouth boss won four and drew two of his opening 10 games in charge, giving them a fighting chance of survival.

However, losing 1-0 at home to their relegation rivals Sutton United in their previous outing was a bitter pill to swallow. Those two sides both trail Colchester United - who have games in hand - by one point heading into the weekend, meaning that results must turn quickly if they are to avoid falling out of the EFL.

Stockport, meanwhile, are hoping to return to League One for the first time since the 2004-05 season, having spent 11 seasons outside of the Football League between 2011 and 2022.

The Hatters narrowly missed out on successive promotions when losing on penalties to Carlisle United in last season's playoff final, but Dave Challinor's side have been remarkably consistent for most of this campaign and are on the cusp of getting over the line heading into the final stretch.

Having won just one of their previous seven matches prior to hosting promotion rivals Milton Keynes Dons last weekend, few could have foreseen Stockport's hugely impressive 5-0 victory coming. Goals from Callum Camps, Paddy Madden and Isaac Olaofe gave their side a commanding 3-0 lead at half time, before they extended their drubbing after the break.

That victory moved Stockport four points clear of fourth-placed MK Dons, while possessing two games in hand on their most recent opponents. As such, at this stage of proceedings, it would represent a major disappointment if Challinor's side do not find themselves competing in the third tier next season, especially with fixtures against the bottom three teams in the division all still to come.

Forest Green Rovers League Two form:

Stockport County League Two form:


Team News

Having failed to force Doncaster's goalkeeper into a single save while only managing 33% possession during their defeat, Cotterill may look to make a few changes in order to improve his side's chances against one of the strongest teams in the division.

Fankaty Dabo - who was hugely criticised by Cotterill's predecessor Troy Deeney - could come into the starting XI after appearing from the bench in Yorkshire, allowing Dominic Thompson to switch to his favoured left side.

Stockport, meanwhile, are unlikely to make any changes after producing one of their best performances and results of the season against MK Dons last time out.

Challinor has seemingly gone all out attack in recent weeks with a front three of Madden, Olaofe and Kyle Wootton, with Camps, Nick Powell and Lemonheigh-Evans all capable of scoring themselves from midfield areas.


Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:
Reyes; Inniss, Keogh, Robson; Dabo, Bunker, Rodriguez, Thompson; Osadebe, McAllister; Doidge

Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchiffe; Kane, Horsfall, Pye, Touray; Lemonheigh-Evans, Powell, Camps; Olaofe, Wootton, Madden


We say: Forest Green Rovers 0-4 Stockport County

Stockport's emphatic victory against their promotion rivals MK Dons last time out could prove to be a hugely important one, not least as it is likely to breathe new fire into their final eight matches of the season.

Forest Green have lost successive games in recent weeks and we would be amazed if that is not extended to three by the time that the referee's full-time whistle blows on Friday, and they may be lucky to avoid a thrashing.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__539828 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-03-28 12:50:23:
html db last update - 2024-03-28 12:50:23 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Saturday's League Two predictions including Stockport vs. MK Dons
Musiala update: Bayern star addresses future amid ongoing transfer talk
Is Havertz still Arsenal's best option? Three "standout" striker targets assessed
Saturday's National League predictions including Altrincham vs. Southend
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Forest Green RoversForest Green18124235142140
2York City18115233141938
3Barnet18121538231537
4Oldham AthleticOldham1897229171234
5Gateshead1810443024634
6Rochdale189362718930
7Halifax TownHalifax188552016429
8Yeovil TownYeovil188462116528
9Solihull MoorsSolihull188463228428
10AltrinchamAltrincham187652823527
11Sutton UnitedSutton187472626025
12Eastleigh186662525024
13Dagenham & RedbridgeDag & Red185763022822
14Hartlepool UnitedHartlepool185761821-322
15Tamworth186482032-1222
16Southend UnitedSouthend185672022-221
17Woking185581924-520
18Aldershot TownAldershot184772329-619
19Braintree TownBraintree185491420-619
20WealdstoneWealdstone184681825-718
21Fylde1853102337-1418
22Maidenhead UnitedMaidenhead1844102131-1016
23Boston UnitedBoston1825111631-1511
24Ebbsfleet1815121543-288
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Amorim's challenge: Man United 'hugely concerned' by new signing's struggles

1

AC

Preview: Hungary vs. Germany - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PH

Who replaces Romero? Will Messi start? Predicted Argentina lineup vs. Peru

NEW

3

WR

Escape route? Man City attacker McAtee 'attracting interest' from PL side

NEW

4

ER

Musiala update: Bayern star addresses future amid ongoing transfer talk

5

MU

Preview: Bosnia H'vina vs. Netherlands - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PB

Sunday's Nations League predictions including England vs. Republic of Ireland

7

SN

From Ronaldo records to San Marino miracle: The story of 2024-25 Nations League

8

FR

Preview: Ghana vs. Niger - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PG

Sunday's Transfer Talk Update: Osimhen, Amass, Zabarnyi

10

ST


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .