The Cobblers face Forst Green Rovers at Sixfeilds and Rovers have lost their last three of their previous four games in all competitions, including a midweek 1-0 defeat to Carlisle United in the FA Cup.
Forest Green Rovers – Who are they?
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is a professional football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, England. The team competes in League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and have played their home games at The New Lawn since 2006 when they moved from their original home at The Lawn Ground.
Formed in October 1889, the club became founder members of the Mid Gloucestershire League five years later. Competing in various local league competitions for much of the 20th century, they won a multitude of league titles: the Dursley & District League (1902–03), the Stroud & District League (1911–12 and 1920–21), the Stroud Premier League (1934–35, 1935–36 and 1936–37), the North Gloucestershire League (1920–21 and 1921–22), and the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League (1937–38, 1949–50 and 1950–51). They became founder members of the Gloucestershire County League in 1968 before they were moved up to the Premier Division of the Hellenic League seven years later.
Forest Green won the Hellenic League in the 1981–82 season and lifted the FA Vase after beating Rainworth Miners Welfare in the final at Wembley. They spent the next 13 years in the Midland Division of the Southern League, and briefly competed under the name Stroud F.C. Reverting to the name Forest Green Rovers, the club won successive Southern League Southern Division and Premier Division titles in 1996–97 and 1997–98, winning promotion into the Conference. Reaching the 1999 FA Trophy Final, which they lost, they became the first club to reach the finals of both the FA Vase and FA Trophy. They also reached the 2001 FA Trophy Final, which again they lost. Twice reprieved from relegation from the Conference National due to the demotion of other clubs, the club was transformed following investment from green energy industrialist Dale Vince in 2010.
Under Dale Vince’s chairmanship, Forest Green became the world’s first vegan football club in 2015, and the New Lawn was installed with numerous eco-friendly innovations.[2] Investment in the playing squad saw the club compete for promotion into the English Football League, which they achieved with victory in the 2017 National League play-offs, having been beaten in the semi-finals in 2015 and 2016 final.
Head-to-head:
The two sides first met in 2010/11, as Northampton Town ran out 3-0 winners in the FA Cup.
Things were a little different last season when injury-time winners in both games secured the points for the hosts, so perhaps late drama could be on the cards once more.
Manager – Mark Copper
“Northampton are on a great run. They had a hiccup at Exeter in a close game, but before that they were on fantastic form,” said Mark Cooper
“We know it’s going to be a tough game. We know we need to stand up to them and defend well. They’re organised, effective and they press high up the pitch.”
“Northampton’s a nice place. It’s a decent stadium and the pitch will be flat and firm which is what we like. We’re looking forward to it.”
Most recent meetings
Forest Green Rovers 2 – Northampton Town 1 – 1st January 2019
Theo Archibald’s 94th minute stunning goal handed Forest Green a dramatic victory over Northampton Town.
With virtually the last kick of the game, the Brentford loanee pulled the trigger from 25 yards to raise the roof at the New Lawn.
Keith Curle’s Northampton had looked to have earned a point when Sam Foley’s 50th minute header restored parity for the Cobblers.
Earlier Mark Cooper’s Rovers opened 2019 with a bang. With just two minutes on the clock, George Williams pounced to notch his fifth goal in three games after excellent work from Reece Brown fashioned the opportunity.
It was all Rovers in the first half – Carl Winchester putting one wide from the edge of the box as a shell-shocked Northampton looked to be nursing a New Year’s Eve hangover.
Deep into injury time Lloyd James drilled a ball across the Northampton box and in the ensuing melee bookings were incurred for Northampton’s David Cornell and Rovers’ Liam Shepherd.
Northampton were level in the second-half with Foley planting a header beyond the sprawling James Montgomery.
Rovers’ substitute Dayle Grubb came close to regaining the lead for Rovers, hitting the post.
Deep into stoppage time, Rovers’ substitute Archibald arrowed home from the edge of the box to send promotion-chasing Rovers up to fifth.
Report supplied by Press Association
Northampton Town 2 Forest Green Rovers 1 – 13th October 2018
Andy Williams scored deep into stoppage-time as Northampton ended Forest Green’s unbeaten start to the season with a dramatic victory at Sixfields.
Reuben Reid’s first-half goal had the visitors on course to extend their undefeated start to 13 league games but Aaron Pierre levelled before Williams’ last-gasp winner gave the Cobblers their first home win of the season.
Earlier, David Cornell was at full stretch to keep out Dayle Grubb in the opening exchanges and counterpart Robert Sanchez produced a similar stop to thwart Billy Waters.
Cornell also saved from Reid and Lloyd James and then Liam Shephard’s lob landed on the roof of the net, before Rovers deservedly hit the front through Reid, who collected Reece Brown’s long ball and rounded Cornell two minutes shy of half-time.
Northampton levelled just past the hour-mark as Jordan Turnbull headed David Buchanan’s corner into the path of Pierre, who found the bottom corner.
Sanchez did well to deny Sam Hoskins late on but the home side would not to be denied thanks to Williams, who finished off fine work from Kevin van Veen to spark wild celebrations.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Key Stats
Don’t forget to pop to the club shop today!
The Dave Bowen book is on sale now!
The description ‘Cobblers Legend’ has been applied to many former Northampton Town players. But there is no better Cobblers story than that of Dave Bowen – player, captain, manager, club secretary, broadcaster. His statistical story is out on Friday, price £19.99, with book sales helping to raise charitable donations in favour of Cynthia Spencer Hospice and a Dementia Cafe in Northampton. Available in the Northampton Town Club Shop (cash only) and via Amazon.