Forest Green boss Robbie Savage bemoaned “big moments” that saw his side’s flawless start halted for the first time this season, allowing Rochdale to dethrone them at the top of the table.
In the clash of the early-season titans, it was a single decisive moment that separated the sides as Kyron Gordon nodded in Aidan Barlow’s corner on 44 minutes to inflict Rovers’ first defeat of the season.
GAFFER TAPES: Robbie Savage’s post-match synopsis
Earlier, Rovers had come out of the traps swinging and Kairo Mitchell’s missed chance against his former employers in the early exchanges proved pivotal.
Savage sighed: “We had a huge opportunity in the first minute — when you go through one-on-one, you have to score. Nobody means to miss, but those are the moments that define games.”
Proud of Rovers’ invincible start to the season, Savage was gracious in defeat: “We knew the winning run had to end at some point, and today it came down to moments. Two very good teams went at it, but they took their chance and we didn’t take ours.”
Savage gleaned positives in Rovers’ front-foot start: “For the first five minutes, we completely pinned them in. I think we had 15 or 16 corners, they had two or three, and they scored from one. We didn’t make first contact from most of ours. So it’s not about effort or attitude — the lads gave me everything — but it’s about taking chances when they come.”
Savage heaped praise on Jim McNulty’s team: “Once they got their goal, they managed the game well. They kept the ball, slowed things down, and it’s always frustrating when you’re chasing, but they’re a good side and deserve credit. I thought our shape was excellent. They weren’t really hurting us, and that’s why we went with two up top — to really go for it.
“I’m proud of the lads. Fourteen games unbeaten before today, sitting second in the league — that’s a fantastic achievement. We’ve got good players, great attitudes, and we’ll go again. Football’s all about moments; they took theirs, we didn’t.”
On the referee’s performance Savage said: “I’m not here to hammer officials — it’s a tough job — but I think there was a clear yellow card missed in the first half. If it’s given, the player probably doesn’t make the second foul that follows. These things matter, just like our missed chances do. Big moments, big decisions — that’s what the game turns on.”
In a high-octane start it was Rovers who came out swinging. Forcing three corners inside the opening three minutes. Rochdale were indebted to 17-year-old keeper Oliver Watmuff, on loan from Manchester City – saving a one-on-one with his feet, thwarting ex-Dale striker Mitchell after the busy Tom Knowles teed him up. Sheffield United loanee Jili Buyabu flashed wide as Rovers bossed the early exchanges.
Former Dale keeper McNicholas spared Rovers’ blushes on 10 minutes – racing off his line to deny Emmanuel Dieseruvwe after Devante Rodney opened Savage’s side up.
On the cusp of the break the eye-catching Rodney slipped away from Rovers’ midfield general Lauren Mendy to spank a strike that McNicholas gloved over and from Dale’s first corner of the half, Gordon scrambled the ball home on 44 minutes.
England U19s keeper Whatmuff gloved a Christian Doidge volley over from Tre Pemberton’s delicious cross inside the opening sixty seconds of the second-half.
Savage shuffled his pack on the hour- ushering on Jose Marquez and Harry Cardwell for Doidge and Mitchell.
In a game punctuated by fouls referee Tom Reeves afforded 11 minutes of added time.
Savage pushed up giant defender Ryan Inniss up top, but it was sub Tyler Smith on his return to Dale, who should have applied the gloss when skewing wide with just McNicholas to beat.
An ecstatic Jim McNulty lauded the new league leaders: “They were amazing. Honestly, they were amazing. And despite the fact I know the game could go any way on singular moments and the first goal is critical, we could have been one down after sixty seconds, I think over the balance of play we deserved to win. And I think probably our XG would suggest that also.”
STAT ATTACK
Forest Green Rovers 0 Rochdale 1 (Gordon 44)
Team line-ups
Forest Green: ( 3-5-2) McNicholas 8; Pemberton 7, Inniss 7, Moore-Taylor 6; Knowles 7; Mendy 7 (Balagizi 75,6 ), Whitwell 8, Moore 6 (Haughton 67, 6), Buyabu 6 ( Kengni 75, 6 ); Mitchell 6 (Marquez 60, 6 ), Doidge 6 (Cardwell 60, 6 )
Subs not used: Pagel, Bunker
Rochdale: ( 3-4-3) Whatmuff 7; Gordon 8, Ebanks-Landell 7, Beckwith 7; East 7 (Petit 84), Gilmour Rodney 8 ( Smith 84), Barlow 6 (McBride 66, off for Amantchi 90 ); Baroque 7, Moss 7 (Allarakhia 84), Dieseruvwe 7
Subs not used: Myles, Humbles,
Half time: Forest Green 0-1 Rochdale
Referee: Tom Reeves
Star man: Harry Whitwell
Attendance: 2,482
Rating: 4 /5
Match statistics
Shots on target: 2 / 4
Shots off target: 2 / 4
Corners: 11 / 3
Offside: 2 / 0
Fouls: 17 / 12
Yellow cards 1: / 2
Red cards: 0/0
