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

The Green are languishing at the foot of the League One standings, four points from safety, while Darren Ferguson's side sit in seventh position in the table, hot on the heels of the intensely-competitive playoff positions.

Match preview

Forest Green have struggled to step up to the third tier of English football in the wake of lifting the 2021-22 League Two trophy at the end of last season.

Now managed by Everton luminary Duncan Ferguson, Rovers have not been victorious since beating Cheltenham Town 1-0 on December 10, spanning a demoralising eight-match period.

Possessing a modest 29% win rate at The New Lawn Stadium - the third-worst home record across the division - Rovers shared the spoils with Exeter City in the middle of last month, but have since suffered a hat-trick of league losses beginning with a defeat to MK Dons on January 21.

Defeat against one of their fellow relegation adversaries was followed up by a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers, despite The Trotters playing the majority of the match with 10 men after referee Tom Nield showed goalscorer Dion Charles a straight red card in the 28th minute.

Ferguson's newly-inherited troops then returned to the familiar backdrop of The New Lawn to face Shrewsbury Town, thinking that things surely could not get any worse. However, Forest Green's dismaying run of results continued spectacularly as the Salop scored in the 94th and 98th minute to steal all three points from under the noses of their beleaguered hosts.

If results do not start to pick up between Saturday and the conclusion of the current campaign, Rovers will again be plying their trade in the fourth tier of English football.

Peterborough United are seeking an instant return to the Championship after losing 27 of their 46 matches last season.

This time around, Darren Ferguson's promotion-aspiring side are only five points behind Barnsley, who occupy the final playoff position.

The Posh have registered 13 victories throughout the 2022-23 League One campaign but have also worryingly suffered the unpleasant taste of defeat on their footballing palates on 11 occasions.

Before last weekend's 2-1 win over Portsmouth, courtesy of a first-half brace from top scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris, Posh witnessed their scheduled league match against Burton Albion on January 24 postponed due to a frozen pitch at the Pirelli Stadium.

Peterborough have only ever encountered their impending hosts once in their head-to-head history, with Ferguson's side emerging as convincing 4-1 winners in November's reverse fixture.

Forest Green Rovers League One form:

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Forest Green Rovers form (all competitions):

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Peterborough United League One form:

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Team News

Leading the 2022-23 League One goalscoring charts with 15 goals this season, Peterborough United striker Jonson Clarke-Harris will again lead the line for Posh on Saturday.

Supporting the talismanic forward will be the attacking trio of Joe Ward, Ephron Mason-Clark and Kwame Poku.

Following their victory over Portsmouth, Nathan Thompson, Frankie Kent, Ronnie Edwards and Dan Butler will take their place in a familiar-looking back four for the hosts.

After frustratingly seeing his side throw away a much-needed three points against Shrewsbury Town, Forest Green Rovers manager Duncan Ferguson could contemplate changing his defensive enforcements for the journey to Cambridgeshire.

Off the back of making a late appearance off the substitutes' bench last weekend, versatile defender Baily Cargill could now be restored to the Rovers' backline for the trip to face Posh.

Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:

Doohan; Godwin-Malife, Cooper, Casey, Cargill; McGeouch, Stevenson; O'Keeffe, Garrick, Onyango; Bakayoko

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:

Norris; Thompson, Kent, Edwards, Butler; Taylor, Kyprianou; Ward, Poku, Mason-Clark; Clarke-Harris

We say: Forest Green Rovers 1-3 Peterborough United

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