With speculation increasingly linking Robbie Savage with the vacant Peterborough United job, the Forest Green boss lavished praise on his players after his 10-man side twice established a two-goal lead at Gander Green Lane before Sutton United snatched a dramatic 3-3 draw deep into stoppage time.
Goals from the outstanding Jayden Clarke, substitute Oli Ewing and captain Kyle McAllister put Rovers 3-1 ahead, despite Freddie Sass being sent off in the 52nd minute after picking up a second yellow card.
Sutton pulled one back through Brandon Njoku following Sass’s dismissal, but McAllister restored Rovers’ two-goal cushion with 17 minutes remaining when he broke into the area and fired home.
However, Charlie Carter’s sublime volley in the 79th minute set up a tense finish before Temi Babalola completed the comeback by heading home in the third minute of stoppage time against his former club.
Afterwards, Savage praised his players for their performance and, when asked about his immediate future ahead of Rovers’ home clash with Wealdstone on Tuesday, said: “You know, football moves quickly. We all know that, but I’m in a position here where I’ve got an amazing owner, amazing people, a great group of lads, and until I’m told otherwise, then yeah, Tuesday’s a game where it’s going to take all our managerial experience from Jonathan (Gould), from Yan (Klukowski), from Josh (Bowen), Mark (Bowen), to put a team out and try and get something.”
Before today’s match at Sutton United, Savage responded when asked whether Forest Green had been approached about his availability.
He said: “I don’t know. I’ve got a game to prepare for and nothing distracts me from my job – I’m passionate, I care, I’m emotional and I’m relentless in what I do. My full focus is on Forest Green.”
Rovers now face a fresh selection headache ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Wealdstone.
With Sass suspended following his red card, Clarke picking up a booking, Ewing suffering a knock while scoring his goal and Filozofe Mabete set to depart on international duty, Rovers will be down to just 17 available players.
That could open the door for a number of academy graduates to make their mark.
Savage said: “Stevie Walsh might get an opportunity now. Do we bring Thomas Conteh back? So, we’ve got to look at all these things.
“But whoever goes onto that pitch for Forest Green Rovers will give everything like they did today.
“What an opportunity, what an opportunity for those young lads possibly to step in in front of our home fans.
“You know, probably some making debuts. Go on, go and show people how good you are.”
