Preview: Forest Green Rovers vs. Exeter City - prediction, team news, lineups

Maximum points would also take Rovers level on points with their next opponents, who currently occupy 15th position after back-to-back defeats.

Match preview

On the back of Rob Edwards's surprise departure in the summer, Forest Green have required a bedding-in period under Ian Burchnall as they bid to establish themselves at this level of football.

Losing five of their opening nine games has perhaps come as no surprise, but Rovers have at least collected four points from their last three fixtures to stay in close proximity to the teams above them.

Forest are within four points of 10th-placed Peterborough United, highlighting the competitiveness of League One, and Burchnall will feel that he now has the quality in his squad to start making progress up the division.

Christian Marques, Myles Peart-Harris and Bryan Fiabema are all showing that they could prove to be key men after their loan arrivals late in the summer transfer window.

Nevertheless, Forest Green suffered a surprise 2-1 home defeat to previously-winless Morecambe last time out, and a response is required against opponents who could prove to be rivals as the season progresses.

From Exeter's perspective, they have failed to build on what was an excellent start to the campaign, collecting 11 points from their opening seven fixtures.

Since then, successive defeats have been posted against Shrewsbury Town and Burton Albion, clubs who remain 12th and bottom despite prevailing in those games.

Matt Taylor knows that opportunities were missed in each of those games, particularly in the former with Exeter having led 2-0 in Shropshire before succumbing to a 3-2 scoreline.

Exeter have failed to win any of their first four away games in the league this season, their two draws coming at Lincoln City and Accrington Stanley.

Forest Green Rovers League One form:

L

L

L

W

D

L

Forest Green Rovers form (all competitions):

W

L

W

D

L

W

Exeter City League One form:

W

L

D

W

L

L

Exeter City form (all competitions):

D

D

L

W

L

L

Team News

Having made widespread changes for the EFL Trophy tie at Newport County, Burchnall could revert back to the team which started versus Morecambe last weekend.

Although Ben Stevenson is pushing for a recall in midfield on the back of his goal in South Wales, he may have to make do with a spot among the replacements.

Forward Connor Wickham heads into this fixture having scored in each of his last two League One appearances.

Harry Kite is expected to deputise in the Exeter backline after Jonathan Grounds joined the club's list of unavailable defenders with a calf injury.

Jack Sparkes and Sam Nombe are both pushing for recalls at left wing-back and in attack respectively.

Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:

McGee; Casey, Moore-Taylor, Marques; O'Keeffe, Hendry, Davis, Bernard; Peart-Harris; Fiabema, Wickham

Exeter City possible starting lineup:

Blackman; Sweeney, Hartridge, Kite; Key, Harper, Collins, Sparkes; Jay; Brown, Nombe

We say: Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Exeter City

With both clubs entering this contest on the back of surprise home defeats, there will be a certain acceptance that avoiding defeat on Saturday would not be the worst result. With that in mind, we would not be surprised to see a low-scoring draw played out at The New Lawn.

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