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

Derek Adams's side are in the relegation zone, while The Green languish three positions below their upcoming hosts at the foot of the table.

Match preview

Morecambe are involved in their second successive relegation battle after spending most of the 2021-22 campaign sitting precariously above the League Two trapdoor.

Adams's side sit in 21st position in the standings but have begun a mini-revival over the last five league matches, registering three victories during that period.

Morecambe began 2023 with back-to-back wins over relegation rivals Burton Albion on New Year's Day and then against Cheltenham Town six days later. However, The Shrimps could not make it a hat-trick of successes after succumbing to a 4-0 defeat at the hands of automatic promotion candidates Ipswich Town towards the end of last month.

The Shrimps returned to winning four days after their defeat at Portman Road with a five-star display in front of goal against Bristol Rovers, as no fewer than five different goalscorers, including an own goal from James Connolly, got their names on the scoresheet.

However, with momentum streaming back into the dressing room following their morale-boosting victory, Morecambe were brought back down to earth as Adams's side shipped the same number of goals at Derby County as they had netted a week earlier.

At the risk of dropping down a division for the first time since the 2020-21 campaign, the Lancashire-based outfit will hope to continue their recent upturn in fortunes on the pitch on Saturday.

Staring an immediate return to the fourth tier of English football in the face, Forest Green have struggled to acclimatise to the step up in division this season.

Duncan Ferguson's newly-inherited side have not been victorious since the middle of December, which has left The Green seven points adrift of Burton, who sit in 20th position.

Forest Green's winless run stretches back nine matches, with eight defeats in that period, leaving last season's League Two winners in a dangerous position at the wrong end of the standings.

Without a much-needed three points since their 1-0 success over Cheltenham Town, the Gloucestershire-based outfit have suffered a hat-trick of league losses, beginning with a 2-1 loss to MK Dons in front of their increasingly-concerned supporters on January 21.

Ferguson's side were then unbelievably left without anything for their endeavours against Shrewsbury Town after Salop found the back of the net, not once, but twice deep into second-half injury time. That demoralising sequence of recent results culminated in a 2-0 defeat against Peterborough United last weekend.

Forest Green are also at the disadvantage of playing at least two more matches than all but one of the teams around them in the League One table.

Morecambe League One form:

W

W

W

L

W

L

Forest Green Rovers League One form:

L

D

L

L

L

L

Forest Green Rovers form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

L

L

Team News

Following his side's defeat to Peterborough, Forest Green Rovers manager Duncan Ferguson could look to reshuffle his starting XI for the trip to the Mazuma Stadium.

Still yet to open his goalscoring account for the 2022-23 League One campaign for The Green, Amadou Bakayoko could be relieved of his starting berth, with on-loan Reading striker Jahmari Clarke being the lucky beneficiary of his fellow forward's recent misfortunes in front of goal.

On the back of their 5-0 defeat to Derby County, Morecambe boss Derek Adams could look to make changes to his 11 for the visit of Forest Green Rovers this weekend.

After making a brief appearance off the substitutes' bench, versatile defender Ryan Delaney could replace Southampton loanee Dynel Simeu on Derek Adams's starting team sheet on Saturday.

Despite misfiring in front of goal at Pride Park, top scorer Cole Stockton will again line up as the Shrimps' lone striker, with Adam Mayor, Daniel Crowley, Jensen Weir and Arthur Gnahoua providing support from midfield.

Morecambe possible starting lineup:

Ripley; Gibson, Rawson, Delaney, Love; Shaw, Weir, Crowley, Mayor, Gnahoua; Stockton

Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:

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

We say: Morecambe 3-1 Forest Green Rovers

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