Match Preview | Forest Green Rovers (A)

29 September 2023

A trip to Gloucestershire awaits for the Shrimps on Saturday 30 September with Forest Green Rovers the opponents.

Derek Adams' men were great value for a point in their last outing against Swindon Town at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium, and perhaps should've come away with all three points despite being down to 10-men from the 56th minute.

Ethan Walker's 80th minute strike cancelled out Charlie Austin's second half penalty to ensure the spoils were shared in an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Forest Green scored three times through Troy Deeney but came away from Notts County empty handed after goals from Dan Crowley, Macauley Langstaff, John Bostock and David McGoldrick just about edged a 4-3 thriller for the Magpies.

The Opposition

The Green Devils were relegated from Sky Bet League One following the 2022/23 campaign. With two wins, one draw and six losses out of nine played, they currently sit 22nd in the League Two table.

On top of their two league wins to-date, both of which came on the road against Harrogate Town and Sutton United respectively, Rovers did overcome Shrewsbury Town at home by three goals to nil in their opening EFL Trophy fixture.

Following the departure of Duncan Ferguson in July after just 18 matches in charge, David Horseman was appointed manager just ahead of the season's opening fixture.

Since his arrival, Horseman has taken charge of 11 games; winning three, drawing one and losing seven, totalling an average points-per-match total of 0.91.

Key Players

Experienced forward Troy Deeney arrived at the club in August as a player-coach, and has made six League Two appearances to-date, scoring four goals in the process. The 35-year-old boasts 615 career appearances so far, with a return of 182 goals. An experienced leader, Deeney spent a lot of his time at Watford and Birmingham City as captain.

Winger Kyle McAllister is into his second season at The New Lawn having joined from Scottish Premiership side St Mirren in the summer of 2022. A former Scottish youth international, the 24-year-old made 33 League One appearances last season, and currently leads the assists tally in the early stages of this campaign.

Everton loanee Reece Welch joined Rovers on a season-long loan from Goodison Park in August. The promising young centre back has already come up against the Shrimps, an EFL Trophy group stage game in September 2021, which the Toffees won by a goal to nil. Welch has made a total of 10 appearances for England at youth level, though is also eligible to represent Jamaica and Barbados.

Jacob Bedeau's Pre-Match Thoughts

While defender Jacob Bedeau is hopeful of a similar outcome to last season's victory at The New Lawn, he insists the Shrimps will not write off Saturday's opponents despite their league position.

"They recruited well in the summer and it's early doors, a team can have a bad start, it doesn't mean they're a bad team," he said.

"We need to sort out our away form anyway and improve that aspect of our performances.

"It'll be a tough game, but hopefully we can go there like we did last year and get three points."

Team News

Michael Mellon comes back into Derek Adams' thinking after serving a one match suspension following his sending off away at Gillingham.

Yann Songo'o misses out following his red card at home to Swindon Town last weekend, he too faces a one match ban.

Adam Mayor will be assessed ahead of the weekend's trip to Gloucestershire.

Meet The Officials

Adam Herczeg takes charge of our trip to Forest Green Rovers, his second time refereeing the Shrimps after last season's 1-1 home draw against Portsmouth.

So far this campaign, Herczeg has taken charge of six games (four in League One and two in League Two) and has issued a total of 19 yellow cards and no reds.

Simon Shaw and Chris Wade will be running the line with Mark Derrien completing the official's line-up as fourth official.

Listen Live!

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Match Reports

Report | Forest Green Rovers 1 Morecambe 2

30 September 2023

Goals either side of the break from Michael Mellon and Jordan Slew respectively secured our first away win of the season.

Matty Taylor pulled one back with six minutes of normal time to play, though it ended in a thoroughly deserved win for the Shrimps.

Morecambe started on the front foot with Jordan Slew playing in Michael Mellon, but he could only stab the ball goalwards leading to a comfortable save for James Belshaw.

The home side hit back with their first chance on 15 minutes; a swift counter attack ended with Troy Deeney squaring the ball to Matty Stevens with the striker drilling his effort wide of the right-hand post.

Derek Adams' men then enjoyed a period of dominance with Mellon played in by Tom Bloxham and forcing a good low save from Belshaw before Jake Taylor's left wing cross sailing just too far ahead of James Connolly at the far post.

The deadlock was broken on 27 minutes when Donald Love found Mellon with a delightful through ball, and the young striker produced a fine finish as he lifted the ball over the advancing keeper.

It was nearly a second for the away side on the stroke of half-time when Belshaw raced from his goal to head a clearance away, the ball landed with Bloxham whose instinctive effort from 40 yards curled inches wide of the post.

Half-time: Forest Green Rovers 0 Morecambe 1

The second goal did come three minutes after the break. An emphatic counter attack started when Jake Taylor played the ball to Bloxham down the right, his low cross was perfect for Slew to score his first of the season at the far post.

Rovers fought back strongly with Tyrese Omotoye heading over from close range and Deeney seeing a shot superbly blocked by Taylor.

On 60 minutes, the home side nearly pulled one back when Marcel Lavinier was found at the back post, though he skied an effort from close range.

At the other end, Morecambe always looked a threat on the break with Belshaw being forced into superb saves from McKiernan and King respectively.

The Shrimps' defence was breached five minutes from time when Taylor headed home from close range, though once again, Adams' men dug deep and held on for all three points.

Forest Green Rovers: Belshaw, Bernard, Inniss, Welch, Robson (Omotoye, 45'), Lavinier (Taylor, 73'), Brown (Jenks, 76'), McAllister, McCann (Bunker, 45'), Stevens (Morton, 73'), Deeney.

Subs not used: Searle, Robertson.

Goals: Taylor (84').

Bookings: Inniss, Brown, Robson.

Red cards: None.

Morecambe: Moore, Love (Tutonda, 61'), Bedeau, Connolly, Senior, King, Taylor (Davenport, 61'), McKiernan, Bloxham (Walker, 72'), Mellon (Rawson, 78'), Slew (Mayor, 72').

Subs not used: A Smith, C Smith.

Goals: Mellon (26'), Slew (48').

Bookings: Love, Bedeau.

Red cards: None.

Attendance: 2,290 (143).