Undaunted Forest Green Rovers boss Robbie Savage revealed he invited two supporters into his office before kick-off and is urging fans to stick with the team during the play-off run-in, despite an abject 3–2 home defeat to in-form Boston United last night.
Rovers trailed 3-0 at half-time for the second successive home game, but an improved second period saw substitutes Harvey Bunker and Tom Knowles on target to give the scoreline a more flattering finale.
The Nailsworth side now face what manager Savage describes as “11 cup finals,” beginning with a trip to relegation-threatened Gateshead on Saturday.
Savage invited the supporters into his office to stress the importance of backing the team during the final stretch of the season.
He said: “The fans deserve an apology again, but I thought the fans were magnificent. They could have been a lot worse in that first half, but they’ve seen the reaction in the second half and they were brilliant again. I got them in and said, ‘Listen, there’s 12 games to go, 12 cup finals for us to get in the play-offs. This team needs you.’ At the end of the season, not in the play-offs, then you’ve got every right to have a go – because this team should be in the play-offs- and we’ve got 11 cup finals now to get there.
“So the objective really is now to get in the play-offs. If we don’t get in the play-offs, I think everybody has a right to have a go at us, but we are building. We are building. I know it seems a long, long time away, but we are on a journey and there will be bumps. This is a big bump, and it’s a test of us all.”
Savage felt a number of his squad failed to perform on the night, he added: “If you can’t wear this Forest Green shirt with a bit of desire and a bit of pride and a bit of energy, body language, then you won’t be worth wearing it many more times because I can’t accept that. It’s all right when you’re 3-0 down, having a go in the second-half. We could have got a draw at the end.
“Only Jili Buyabu, Kyle McAllister, probably in that first half, come out with any credit. Kyle always comes out with credit, that’s why he’s the captain. Second-half, you know, a few ran around, but even with two up, you know, we didn’t get a chance. Christian Doidge had a header, we didn’t get any chance. You know, all over the park in the first half, except for Jili and Kyle, I could have made nine changes, but obviously not doing big five, but I could have taken anybody off.”
“You know, and I’ve brought the players in, me and Mark, so my responsibility, I’m the manager, and I’m the manager to try and get these in the play-offs and then up. Right now, that seems a long way off, but they’re capable of doing it. We’ve all seen it. The confidence is shot to pieces in some, in some. And how do they get through that? Usually by playing, but they can’t. If you can’t play in front of 1,200 people at home, hiding, what chance you got.”
Savage revealed his players exchanged words in the dressing room, he said: “What I’m pleased with after is the lads have dug each other out, which is the first time they’ve done it, which is needed. Because if I’ve been in dressing rooms, in my dressing rooms over the years I’ve played, there’d be people having people by the scruff of the neck and having it out with each other.
“That’s happened in my dressing rooms. I know times have changed, and not for one minute I’m saying people should be doing that, but they’ve had a heated conversation, and rightly so, and I’m pleased to see that because it was needed.”
Earlier, Rovers pressed the self-destruction button inside 12 minutes. Gabe Kircough’s misdirected header forced Ashqar Ahmed into a desperate attempt to halt Gregory Sloggett’s advance, but his raised boot was judged a foul. Frankie Maguire stepped up and sent Harry Isted the wrong way from the penalty spot.
The Pilgrims threatened again soon after, but Isted responded well, beating away a fierce effort from Maguire. However, Rovers were rocked again in the 29th minute. A short-corner routine caught them cold, allowing Jamie Grimes to rise and plant a header beyond Isted.
Six minutes before the break, Boston had a third. Tate Campbell was dispossessed in midfield by Oisin Gallagher, and Thomas Cursons strode through a porous Rovers backline before calmly finishing past the exposed Isted.
Savage rang the changes at half-time, withdrawing Christian Doidge, Kircough and Ahmed in favour of Tom Knowles, Nick Haughton and Elijah Morrison. Campbell lasted just six minutes of the second half before Jayden Clarke replaced him.
Rovers found a glimmer of hope in the 72nd minute. Haughton’s corner was initially met by Bunker, whose header was blocked by Rhys Lovett, but the substitute reacted quickest to nod home the rebound.
Knowles set up a tense finale in stoppage time, skipping through to fire a shot through Lovett in the 91st minute. Haughton headed over in the closing moments as Boston clung on for the win.
Forest Green Rovers: Isted; Mendy, Kircough (Morrison 46), Kanu (Bunker 31); Ahmed (Knowles 46), Nwoko, Campbell (Clarke 52), Buyabu; McAllister; Rees, Doidge (Haughton 46).
Subs not used: Pagel, Kengni.
Boston: Lovett; Teale, Rooney, Grimes, Carson (Lankshear 90); Gallagher, Richards, Sloggett; Hiwula (McCarron 72), Maguire (Lavinier 90); Cursons (Donnelly 77).
Subs not used: Grist, Raikhy, Aboh.
Referee: Harrison Blair.
Attendance: 1,259.
