Two sides on opposite ends of the table will square off in League Two for the first time as Forest Green Rovers host Wrexham on Saturday at the New Lawn.
Heading into this fixture, the Green are second from the bottom, three points behind Tranmere Rovers in the fight to avoid relegation, losing their previous domestic encounter 3-0 to Bradford City, while the Robins are in second place after playing to a 2-2 draw with Harrogate Town.
Match preview
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It has been just over a month since Forest Green last won a league contest as manager David Horseman continues to search for solutions to turn their fortunes around.
To this point of the campaign, this team have struggled to find the back of the net, going goalless in three successive matches across all competitions and failing to net in three of their previous four League Two affairs.
For as poor as they have been in League Two thus far though, there are some positives for them to take away from other competitions, as they topped their EFL League Trophy group before narrowly losing their second-round fixture, 1-0 versus Oxford United, a side who are currently third in League One.
After losing their opening six domestic encounters at home this season, the club from Nailsworth have given their supporters a lot more to cheer about lately, claiming at least a point in three of their previous four league games at the New Lawn.
Defending transition moments has been a trouble spot for them throughout the campaign, with the Green conceding 35 goals after 19 matchdays, with only Sutton United (40), Colchester United (40), Newport County (36), Swindon Town (36) and Notts County (36) allowing more this season.
While Forest Green have never faced Wrexham in League Two, these two sides met plenty of times in the Conference and National League, with Rovers losing only once at home to them in a competitive fixture since 2010-11 (1-0 defeat in 2014-15 Conference League).
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The Town missed an opportunity to put a little distance between themselves and those chasing them in the battle for automatic promotion, squandering a 2-0 lead at Harrogate Town in late November.
That was a minor speed bump in what has been another impressive campaign for Phil Parkinson's men, who have points in 10 of their last 11 league fixtures.
This is a team who excel at attacking down the wings, with plenty of quality in the middle to finish off their numerous crosses as the Robins are tied with Notts County for the second-most goals scored in League Two this season (42), netting one fewer than Swindon Town.
As things stand right now, Wrexham hold one of the three automatic promotional positions, but Notts County, Crewe Alexandra and Mansfield Town are right on their heels, each trailing them by just a single point.
Two of their three domestic defeats in 2023-24 have come away from home, going winless in their previous two matches as the visitors in the competition, conceding multiple goals each time.
Wrexham have had difficulty finding the back of the net in previous visits to the New Lawn, failing to score in five of their eight competitive matches played there all-time, while they have not won at Forest Green since the 2014-15 Conference League season (1-0).
Team News
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Forest Green may be without Ryan Inniss for this encounter due to muscle fatigue, while they made one change to their starting 11 from matchday 18 to 19 in League Two, with Teddy Jenks coming in to replace Jacob Maddox against Bradford City.
Rovers have not found the back of the net in a competitive fixture since Kyle McAllister notched a brace in a 2-2 draw domestically versus Grimsby Town, while their leading goalscorer in League Two, Matty Stevens (five goals), has not scored since October 14 when he also had a brace in a 5-0 triumph over Colchester.
Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, currently on loan from Arsenal, has temporarily returned to the Gunners to get surgery on his jaw after sustaining an injury in their draw versus Harrogate Town, while Jordan Davies is doubtful with a knock.
Mark Howard took his place between the sticks when they defeated Yeovil Town 3-0 in the second round of the FA Cup, while it was Luke McNicholas, on loan from Sligo Rovers in the Irish Premiership, that started in goal when they were knocked out in the second round of Football League Trophy tournament, losing 3-2 at home to Burton.
Andy Cannon and their leading goalscorer domestically, Elliot Lee (11 goals), both found the back of the net in their previous domestic clash against the aforementioned Harrogate Town.
Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:
Belshaw; Dabo, Bernard, Moore-Taylor, Robson; McAllister, McCann, Bunker, Jones; Deeney, Onotoye
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Howard; Mendy, Hayden, Tozer, O'Connor, McClean; Cannon, Evans, Lee; Palmer, Mullin
We say: Forest Green Rovers 1-3 Wrexham
Although Wrexham have been susceptible at the back this season, conceding 31 times, they are not as inconsistent in that areas of the field as Forest Green.
Given the firepower that the Welsh side possess and their ability to create chances against the best sides that League Two have to offer, we believe they will ultimately be too much for the home team to handle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
