After making the third round of FA Cup last weekend in nervy fashion, Forest Green Rovers take on Cambridge United at the New Lawn Stadium this weekend.
Both teams have endured a lacklustre campaign this season, with Forest Green sitting joint-bottom of League One on 14 points, and Cambridge hovering just above on 20 points.
Match preview
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Forest Green come into this match having not won a league game since October 8 - a miserable run now stretching seven matches.
Thankfully, a number of draws against the likes of Port Vale, Fleetwood Town and most recently Oxford United have kept their heads slightly above water at the bottom of the table.
The Green's run in the FA Cup must have come as a relief to the West Midlands club's supporters - going away to win 2-0 against Northern Premier side South Shields, followed by a 2-1 victory to minnows Alvechurch, has increased the optimism amidst much of the gloom hanging over the New Lawn Stadium in recent weeks.
Forest Green took the lead after Josh March was bundled to the floor by Alvechurch's Aurio Teixeira in the penalty box, allowing striker Connor Wickham to plant the spot kick straight down the middle.
Unfortunately, the Green failed to capitalise on their first half dominance, allowing Alvechurch back into the game thanks to a wonderful free kick from Jed Abbey. Luckily, March's back-post header in immediate reply was enough for the home side to progress to the next round.
Those who tuned in to the Cup match last weekend would have seen, alarmingly for fans of the Green, a rather even game, with non-league Alvechurch competing against their professional counterparts right up until the final whistle.
However, Forest Green can be hopeful that the recent form of Wickham and March in attack can spur the rest of the team on to a proper relegation battle. Should they find the spaces to provide service for the two, few defences in the league will want to deal with the menace of the two forwards.
Meanwhile, Cambridge have seen themselves slide further down throughout November to join their opponents near the bottom of the table. United have won just one league game since the beginning of October, failing to score a goal in any of their last three games.
Head coach Mark Bonner has decried his side's lack of finishing prowess and inconsistency in performances, but has remained optimistic that the results will come for his team with more time spent on the training ground.
Having been forced to progress in the FA Cup on penalties against Curzon Ashton - failing to score in over 180 minutes against the National League North side - they were subsequently knocked out of the competition by League Two's Grimsby Town last week.
Managing just one shot on target courtesy of Sam Smith's headed goal, Grimsby's well-deserved victory represents the sheer decline that Cambridge have suffered throughout the autumn.
Team News
Forest Green will be without left centre-back Dom Bernard for Saturday due to suspension - the 25-year-old was sent off after receiving a second bookable offence against Alvechurch the week before.
Last week saw the surprise return of Jordan Moore-Taylor at centre-back for the Green after a spell on the sidelines due to injury.
Ian Burchnall may keep midfielder Ben Stevenson on the substitutes' bench, with Dylan McGeouch having impressed on his first two outings for the Green.
The U's have been boosted with the return of centre-back Zeno Ibsen Rossi, who returned to training at the start of the week after being absent with a hamstring problem.
Meanwhile, first-choice goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov remains out after picking up an ankle injury at the end of October, with back-up Will Mannion deputising between the sticks since then.
In midfield, Liam O'Neil will not return to the starting lineup this weekend, the 29-year-old also suffering with an ankle injury for the last month.
Adam May will not return for the rest of the season, the 24-year-old midfielder having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Bristol Rovers in October.
Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:
McGee; Casey, Moore-Taylor, Cargill; O'Keefe, Hendry, Peart-Harris, McGeouch, Boyes; Wickham, March
Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Mannion; Williams, Ibsen Rossi, Jones, Dunk; Simper, Digby; Knibbs, Lankester, Brophy; Ironside
We say: Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Cambridge United
Forest Green may be unfortunately placed at the bottom of the league table, making them strong relegation candidates. However, manager Burchnall will look to take advantage against a Cambridge side seemingly incapable of scoring goals either home or away.
Another strong outing for the Green's strike partnership of Wickham and March should be enough to topple Cambridge, and we predict winning goals from the pair of them this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
