Match Preview | Argyle v Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers are looking to end a 16-game run without a win when they head to Home Park on Saturday.
Forest Green are bottom of the Sky Bet League One table, with 23 points from their 36 fixtures. They are seven points behind the next team in the league, and 12 from safety.
They have taken the lead in the last two games, going 1-0 up over Accrington Stanley and Bristol Rovers, but lost the games 2-1 and 3-1 respectively.
Forest Green's first game of the season, following promotion last year, was away to Bristol Rovers, in which Forest Green picked up a win. However, they have failed to win on the road since then in the league, drawing seven and losing ten.
Curiously enough, Argyle's first away win of the campaign came at the New Lawn, in August, as they beat Forest Green 3-0 thanks to goals from Finn Azaz, Bali Mumba and Niall Ennis.
The two sides have never met at Home Park. Forest Green's first season in the EFL was in 2017/18, and two years later Argyle's first assignment there in competitive football saw the Pilgrims win thanks to an Antoni Sarcevic goal.
FGR are managed by Duncan Ferguson, who took the job at the end of January. The 51-year-old Scotsman's playing career saw him take in stints at Dundee United and Rangers, before heading south of the border to Everton. He attained cult status in two spells at Goodison Park, either side of playing for Newcastle United. His playing career also included seven games for Scotland.
On retirement, Ferguson had time out of football, but returned to coach in Everton's academy, eventually building himself up to becoming a first-team coach and assistant manager. He stepped in as caretaker boss on two occasions. His job at Forest Green is his first as manager in his own right.
In Forest Green's squad is Jordon Garrick, who spent last season on loan with Argyle from Swansea City. He joined Lincoln City on loan at the start of this campaign, and signed for Forest Green on a permanent basis in January. He has three goals in ten games for Rovers.
Forest Green's leading goalscorer in the current squad are Miles Peart-Harris, who has six to his name in 37 appearances.
Schumacher Says
"It's not going to be an easy game at all. I know they're at the bottom of the division, but the games I've watched of them, they're in every single game.
“They always make it hard for the opposition. They should have won at Shrewsbury. They should have won at Morecambe. The only one that got away from them was Ipswich.
“I know for a fact Duncan's going to have them well wound up, they'll be well ready to come here and put in an organised performance. We need to make sure that we play well and any chances that we get, take them, because we need the three points.
Team News
Mike Cooper is out for the rest of the season. Adam Randell and Sam Cosgrove are recovering from injury, but will not be back in time for this game. Tyreik Wright, Dan Scarr and Conor Grant are all back in contention for the squad.
Tickets
Tickets for this game are extremely limited for home supporters and are likely to sell out in advance. Should the game sell out, returned tickets can be made available, so keep checking ArgyleTickets.com.
Turnstiles will open two hours before kick-off, from 1pm. Supporters are advised to enter through the turnstile identified on their match ticket. However, if neighbouring turnstiles have shorter queues, supporters are permitted to enter these to speed up access to the stadium.
Argyle TV
The game will be covered on Argyle TV, with commentary from Charlie Price and former Argyle forward Ian Stonebridge.
Erin Black will host a pre-match show which will be available for free on YouTube from 2pm. She will be joined by former Argyle defender Marc Edworthy.
Audio commentary of the game is available for £2.50 in the UK, and live video streaming is available for overseas supporters.
