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

The Rams will enter the contest off the back of a 2-0 home defeat to Ipswich Town, while Forest Green suffered a 1-0 loss at Portsmouth in their last fixture in the third tier of English football.

Match preview

Forest Green were promoted to League One for the 2022-23 campaign courtesy of their League Two triumph last term, with the club playing in the third tier for the first time in their history.

It was always going to be a challenging season for Rovers, and it does appear that they will be heading back to League Two for 2023-24, unless something drastic happens over the next few weeks.

Indeed, a total of 26 points from 39 matches has left Forest Green bottom of the division, some 12 points behind 20th-placed Oxford United, who also have a game in hand.

Duncan Ferguson's side recorded a huge 1-0 victory over league leaders Sheffield Wednesday on February 26, but they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon.

Rovers suffered a 4-0 defeat to Derby in the reverse match earlier this season, but this will be the first time that the two teams have locked horns in a league game in Gloucestershire.

Derby, meanwhile, have seen their promotion charge take a hit in recent weeks, losing four of their last five matches, including each of their last three against Fleetwood Town, Peterborough United and Ipswich Town.

The Rams have dropped outside of the playoffs, currently sitting seventh in the table, but they are level on points with sixth-placed Peterborough United.

Paul Warne's side suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Ipswich on Saturday afternoon, but they now have a run of matches where they will be expecting to pick up a generous total of points, following this fixture with a home game against MK Dons before heading to Bristol Rovers on April 15.

Derby dropped out of the Championship last season by finishing 23rd, with the team operating in League One for the first time in their history.

The Rams have picked up 24 points from their 19 away league games this term, and they will be taking on a Forest Green outfit with the worst home record in the division.

Forest Green Rovers League One form:

D

L

L

L

W

L

Derby County League One form:

D

L

W

L

L

L

Team News

Forest Green have no injury concerns from their narrow defeat at Portsmouth, so it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field for this contest.

Charlie Savage played in an advanced area at the weekend and could start further forward again here, with Myles Peart-Harris also featuring in the final third of the field.

Tyrese Omotoye will be in Ferguson's thinking when it comes to possible changes, but an unchanged side could ultimately be sent onto the field here.

As for Derby, Tony Springett is facing a period on the sidelines with a shin injury, although the on-loan Norwich City attacker could be back for the playoffs if the Rams make it.

James Chester is pushing to be involved after making his comeback for the Under-21s, with the central defender potentially being named on the bench.

There are expected to be changes from the side that started the loss to Ipswich Town, with Tom Barkhuizen, Conor Hourihane and Curtis Davies potentially coming into the XI.

Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:

Doohan; Godwin-Malife, Casey, Cooper, Robson; McAllister, McGeouch, Bunker, Garrick; Peart-Harris, Savage

Derby County possible starting lineup:

Wildsmith; Smith, Davies, Cashin, Forsyth; Bird, Hourihane; Mendez-Laing, McGoldrick, Barkhuizen; Collins

We say: Forest Green Rovers 0-1 Derby County

This is a huge match for both sides, and it is set to be a fascinating battle on Friday afternoon. Derby desperately need a win to put to an end their recent poor run, and we are tipping the Rams to navigate their way to a huge three points in this contest.

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