Preview: Forest Green Rovers vs. Oxford United - prediction, team news, lineups

FGR have already been relegated, after a very disappointing season, while Oxford United are still fighting for survival, with just two games left to go.

Match preview

Forest Green have been by far and away the worst team in the third tier in the 2022/23 campaign, and they have known for a long time they will be finishing bottom of the pile, having acquired just 27 points from 44 games.

FGR still had a very good chance of survival until December, sitting just one point from safety after a 1-0 victory against Cheltenham Town, however they have struggled considerably in the second half of the season.

The side now managed by Duncan Ferguson have won just one of their last 24 games in all competitions, with that solitary victory bizarrely coming against promotion-chasing Sheffield Wednesday in late March.

However, wins at the New Lawn have been few and far between all season, collecting just 17 points in 22 home games, and they were recently on the receiving end of a heavy 5-1 defeat at home against Barnsley.

Last time out, Forest Green lost 3-1 away at rivals Cheltenham Town, after yet another very disappointing performance, and they will need to put in a much-improved display to take anything from this weekend's game.

Oxford are fighting for their lives in League One, currently sitting three points clear of the bottom four, with just two games left to play, although their fixture list is kind, taking on FGR, before hosting 22nd-placed Accrington Stanley on the final day.

After a 2-1 victory against Ipswich Town back in January, relegation appeared to be out of the equation, given that the U's were 11 points clear of the bottom four, but they have been on a terrible run in the second half of the season.

Liam Manning's side have won just one of their last 18 League One matches, with that victory coming against Cheltenham Town in their last match, winning 4-0 at the Kassam Stadium, after a brace from Marcus Browne.

There have some signs of improvement since the beginning of April, with Oxford also picking up points against promotion-chasing Sheffield Wednesday, as well as Peterborough, and they are now in a decent position to avoid relegation.

The job is not done yet, however, and the U's are tasked with beating an FGR side they could only draw 1-1 against earlier in the season, despite dominating the majority of possession.

Forest Green Rovers League One form:

L

L

L

L

D

L

Oxford United League One form:

D

D

L

D

L

W

Team News

Ferguson was clearly unimpressed with Charlie Savage's performance on Tuesday night, as the striker was withdrawn in the first half, so Tyrese Omotoye could come into the Forest Green attack.

Ben Stevenson has been a long-term absentee with a knee injury, and the midfielder may not be able to return before the end of the season, meaning Harvey Bunker and Dylan McGeouch should keep their places in the engine room.

Manning is unlikely to make too many changes to his Oxford side after the fantastic result on Tuesday night, but young winger Tyler Goodrham, who scored the opening goal last time out, is a doubt due to a leg injury.

That said, the U's have a quality replacement in Josh Murphy, with the 28-year-old assisting two goals after being brought on as a substitute in Tuesday night, and he will play provider for Kyle Joseph in attack.

Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:

Doohan; Godwin-Malife, Cooper, Casey, Robson; O'Keeffe, Bunker, McGeouch, Garrick; Omotoye, Peart-Harris

Oxford United possible starting lineup:

Eastwood; Long, Moore, Findlay, Brown; McGuane, Brannagan, Murphy, Bodin, Browne; Joseph

We say: Forest Green Rovers 0-1 Oxford United

Oxford have finally started to pick up some decent results at the most important stage of the season, and given that this game means far more to them than it does to Forest Green, they are likely to emerge victorious.

FGR have had a very poor maiden season in League One, winning just one home game in 2023, and there have been no recent indications they will be able to take anything from Saturday's game.

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