The Fleet are back on the road for the second time in four days and it’s a first trip to Forest Green Rovers’ New Lawn since 2012 to take on one of the two sides to drop out of the EFL last season.
Form guide
Forest Green are second in the Vanarama National League table – equal on points with Barnet – and they have picked up the second highest number of wins of the 24 clubs in the division. Most recent form sees them having won their last four league matches which included two clean sheets.
Previous encounters
Fleet last met Forest Green in the FA Trophy in 2015, winning 1-0 at Stonebridge Road. Our last league meetings came at this level in 2012/13, Rovers winning 4-1 at home and 2-0 away.
Who’s who
Jed Ward arrived at The New Lawn Stadium as Rovers’ No. 1 for the 2024/25 campaign following a breakout season with Bristol Rovers. He made 19 appearances, keeping seven clean sheets and also played twice for England U20s. The young goalkeeper has previous experience with Hungerford Town and Wealdstone.
Former Wrexham defender Ben Tozer is another summer arrival and has featured in all 14 matches so far. Throughout a significant football career, Tozer has made just shy of 600 EFL appearances for the likes of Northampton Town, Newport County and Cheltenham Town.
After four and a half years away from Forest Green, striker Christian Doidge returned in January. In his first spell with Rovers, Doidge scored 66 in 122 games, 27 of those goals coming as Rovers gained promotion from the National League in 2016/17. He has scored eight already this season. In between his two spells at the New Lawn, Doidge played for Bolton, Hibernian and Kilmarnock and he was also at Dagenham and Dartford in his early career.
The manager
Former Shrewsbury and Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill became manager of Forest Green back in January and has won 17 matches out of 35. The 60-year-old played for the likes of Wimbledon, Brighton and Bournemouth before he guided Cheltenham Town into the Football League. Some big jobs in management have included Stoke City, Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City.
Ticket info
Tickets information is here.
