Robbie Savage admitted his disappointment after Forest Green Rovers’ planned pre-season fixture against Bristol City’s first team was changed to a match against their U21 side — although the Rovers boss praised the young players who eventually pushed his team all the way in a 3-2 thriller.
The visitors raced into a two-goal lead inside the opening half, with Ruebin Sheppard and Ephriam Yehboah finding the net to put Bristol City U21s in control.
Forest Green responded in the 32nd minute when D’Mani Mellor tapped home from close range after a pinpoint cross from Tre Pemberton to halve the deficit.
The comeback was completed after the break, with Liverpool loanee Kyle Kelly equalising before Mellor struck again to seal a 3-2 victory for Rovers.
The fixture had originally been arranged as a test against Bristol City’s senior squad, but the Championship club changed plans after being scheduled to face Newcastle United on the same evening.
Pic: Peter Barnes
Savage said the alteration was frustrating because Rovers had structured their pre-season schedule around facing first-team opposition in their final games before the National League campaign begins.
“When you structure your pre-season, that’s where I’d love to give Cardiff credit, and Bristol Rovers first team, great crowd,” Savage said.
“When we pencilled the fixture in, it was a first-team fixture. But then obviously they got Newcastle on the same night.
“It’s their prerogative, they can do what they want, but when you pencil a fixture in, you build your pre-season, the last two games around being real tough tests.
“It’s slightly disappointing that you get moved aside when it was pencilled in first.
“Personally, our Forest Green team, like we did at Merthyr because of Ricardo’s (Rees) transfer, we honoured our first team and I think that’s what you should do.”
Despite his frustration, Savage was full of praise for Bristol City’s youngsters, who took the lead before Rovers fought back to secure victory.
“But the 21s can take huge credit because I thought they were magnificent,” he said.
“Credit the management staff. The young players, if they can move the ball one or two touch, because physically they’re not ready for senior football, it makes them better players.
“They don’t get caught on the ball because they’re wary of that physical challenge.
“As they progress, they can keep to that two touches, move the ball quick and play forward, which they did really well.
“The patterns were good. I thought they were really good and credit to them.”
Savage admitted he was unhappy with parts of Rovers’ performance despite the comeback win, particularly their defensive display.
“First off, it wasn’t good enough,” he said.
“We didn’t press the ball. We were far too open in the middle of the park. Defensively, not great.
“But we looked a threat going forward. The second half was far better, and as it should be.
“We know we scored another three goals — I think that’s 18 in pre-season — but we need to start keeping clean sheets.
“Got to work better, be better defensively. But it was a good game. I really enjoyed it.
“Great attendance, over 1,000 here again, so a good test for our players against a really energetic, young, dynamic side who had great movement, one-touch football, two-touch football, moving the ball quick.
“At times they were the better side in the first half and deservedly so. They took the lead. But I think our experience and our changes helped win us the game.”
Savage said the match once again gave him valuable information about his squad ahead of the new season.
“You learn every single day, every training session,” he said.
“On and off the pitch, you see how the mannerisms are, how the character is on and off the pitch.
“When you’re 2-0 down, I see people not wanting the ball. That’s bravery, to get on the ball.
“With the crowd here, you’re two-nil down, you’re thinking ‘I’m going to have a tough day here’.
“Don’t go and smash them, but be positive. Play forward. Run forward.
“I think the second half we’ve done that better. We’ve run forward, we created numerous chances, and so we should.
“Again, it’s another three goals, and I thought the subs made a huge impact.”
The Rovers boss was also pleased to see players adapt to different roles, with Josh Osude and Shaun Etaluku operating on opposite wings.
“If you’re a footballer and the manager asks you to play a position, you might not like it,” he said.
“I’ve had to do it on a few occasions where I would play on the right wing because I had no pace, but I done a job for the team.
“You put a smile on your face. Subconsciously you’re thinking, ‘I don’t want to play there’, but you do it for the team.
“One or two might be playing out of position and their body language shows that. If the manager asks you to do a job for the team, you do it at the best of your ability.
“Everybody wants to play their natural position, but in pre-season you need minutes for players, different systems, different shapes, different thoughts.
“Shaun done well when he went on the right-hand side and Josh when he came on is a great impact player. He was a threat and the pace we had there was a threat.
“I wanted more from the front four in the first half, undoubtedly, and I thought the team in the second half was better.”
Savage called for his attacking players to be more ruthless after Rovers created several opportunities.
“The amount of times we get in and it’s hitting the same as last season,” he said.
“We’re getting in round the back, hit the first man. But then we have two clear one-on-ones.
“Josh (Osude) has just got to shoot. Ricardo’s (Rees) got to shoot. Don’t be unselfish there.
“Would the best strikers that have ever been pass the ball there? No, they wouldn’t.
“Strikers are judged on goals. It’s one-v-one. I’ll never go at somebody if they shoot and the keeper saves it. That’s what you do as a striker.
“That’s what you work all week for. That’s why you hit the back of the net in training consistently because of those moments.
“Be selfish in those moments.
“Ricardo (Rees), Josh (Osude), Nick (Haughton) — these are the moments. We’ll keep working, but you can see where we score goals, this team.
“I don’t want the same problems as last year when we create so many opportunities and then get hit with the same thing.”
Savage said the defensive improvements required would come through hard work and better decision-making.
“We work,” he said.
“We work hard. Fundamental errors, aggression, distances.
“My centre-halves’ first thought shouldn’t be back to the keeper’s side. Just play forward.
“He could try to pass forward, they cut it out and they scored. I don’t mind that. He tried to be positive and do the right thing.
“Midfield players getting the ball, three, four touches, going sideways or back — go forward.
“Play forward. Have a bounce back and go out the other side.
“I think we have to use the diagonal more. Second half Gabe (Kircough) hit a lovely ball in behind. Great ball.
“Wingers going towards the ball, spinning behind when the defender’s foot goes back — that’s the trigger.
“We’re getting it all the time if people play a high line. That’s what we did.
“It was a better second half. First half wasn’t great. Credit them.”
Savage confirmed Kyle McAllister has taken over as captain following Laurent Mendy’s departure.
“Deservedly so,” he said.
“I was thinking about giving it before. I made the decision about Mendy, but obviously now Mendy’s left.
“For me, Kyle McAllister is one of the best players in the league. He’s a brilliant player. He’s a great person around the dressing room.
“Never moans, gets on with it.
“He deserves the captain’s armband and I’m delighted for him.”
The manager was also pleased to welcome back Ricardo Rees from injury. “We missed him,” Savage said.
“Him and D’Mani (Mellor) are fighting it out for that number nine shirt.
“At the minute D’Mani holds it because Ricardo’s missed five games. That’s his first minutes tonight.
“Can he go again Saturday for half an hour? Hopefully so.
“Maybe the first game of the season has come too early for him.
“But with those two, brilliant, brilliant for me.”
Savage also praised several individual performances, including Liverpool loanee Kyle Kelly, Neil Kenji and Nick Haughton.
“Kyle Kelly had another decent game, got another goal,” he said. “He plays predominantly as a six, but he’s got another goal, credit him. He’s loving it.
“Kenji was terrific. What Kenji does, he always trains, he never moans, he’s always got a smile on his face.
“You can see his body language — he’s thriving, he loves being here and he’s put himself right in the frame for a start against Halifax.”
On Haughton, Savage added: “Nick’s a good footballer, a lovely footballer. He sees passes which nobody else can.
“To be fair to Nick, he’s worked exceptionally hard without the ball in pre-season.”
But Savage again warned that Rovers must find the right balance between attack and defence.
“Without the ball, we looked vulnerable tonight,” he said. “That’s not Nick, that’s the whole team.
“We’ve got a great bunch of lads in there. We’re capable of scoring goals, but we’re capable of conceding.
“The balance is quite not right again, but it’s going to be entertaining.
“They’re a good group of lads who want to succeed and want to do well.
“It’s going to be a rollercoaster season.”
Despite being written off by some observers, Savage believes Rovers can improve on last season’s seventh-place finish and 81-point total. “We’ve rebuilt a whole squad in 12 months,” he said. “Nobody gives us credit. We’re seventh favourites for the league. Nobody’s giving us a chance this season, which is good — that’s good for us.
“There’s still pressure because I believe this team should be beating the target of last season — 81 points and 23 wins, we should be better than that. Whatever that may finish, that’s the aim and the expectation. Beat last year’s points total and wins, which was 23. If we can do that, I’m sure we’ll be in a play-off position.”
Savage confirmed goalkeeper Ethan Ross will return for Saturday’s final pre-season fixture against Swindon Town X1.
“He’ll play Saturday,” he said.
“Luke (McNicholas) did alright tonight. Luke will play Saturday and then those two will fight it out for the number one jersey.”
Looking ahead to the final friendly, Savage said he would use the game to finalise his plans for the opening league match.
“The plan is to watch the game back and pick a team who I believe might start against Halifax,” he said.
Forest Green Rovers: McNicholas, Pemberton (Agina 74’), Obi, Ajayi (Haughton 46’), Ewing (Kircough 46’), Etaluku (Conteh 70’), Patrick (Kengni 46’), Kelly (Walsh 63’), McAllister (Campbell 46’), Mellor (Rees 67’), Berry (Osude 46’)
Subs not used: Pagel
Bristol City XI: Collins, Barimah, Anderson, Derrick, Sainsbury, Sheppard, Knight, Murphy, Yehboah, O’Neil, Skinner.
Subs: Williams, Murphy, Wood, Amos, Hogg, Ikpeama, Griffin, Abbott, Akinbo.
Attendance: 1,173 (104 away)
