Robbie Savage admitted the honeymoon period at Forest Green Rovers is over after his side were held to a sluggish 1–1 draw at home by bottom-of-the-table Truro City.
Savage cut a frustrated figure following a second successive disappointing result, coming just days after a 1–0 defeat away at Brackley Town.
Forest Green took the lead on the half-hour mark through Jili Buyabu, but the advantage lasted just five minutes as Cole Deeming capitalised to bring Truro level.
Listen to Robbie Savage’s unabridged post-match synopsis
Savage did not hold back in his post-match assessment, questioning the mentality and impact of some of his squad.
“I think there’s a realisation now that the honeymoon period is over. The exciting football – I’m accountable because we’ve brought players into the football club who I think it’s too big for, and I’m realising that after four or five months,” Savage said.
“I made a living out of heart, desire, energy, affecting games. We’ve got technically good players who can’t affect the game. It’s as simple as that.”
The former Wales international was particularly disappointed with his side’s lack of intensity.
“In the last two performances I’ve been bored. People don’t want to go forward, people don’t want to sprint, people don’t want to do that extra yard. That’s not what we’ve built – we’ve built a team based on energy, desire and heart, and the last two games have been sadly lacking.”
Savage highlighted on-loan West Brom midfielder Harry Whitwell as a driving force in the squad and stressed the importance of keeping him at the club.
“Harry Whitwell’s driving this team on. If we lose him, we lose a massive influence. I want him to stay and drive this team on.”
Peter Barnes’ match gallery
While conceding the title race may now be over, Savage insisted there is still plenty to play for.
“The title’s gone, I think, but we’re in a position now to try and get second or third so we can have a home tie in the play-offs like last season.”
Despite Rochdale’s defeat elsewhere, Savage acknowledged that recent results against struggling sides are unacceptable.
“We’ve got one point from six against two teams fighting for survival in Brackley and Truro. That’s not acceptable if you’re trying to win the league.”
Forest Green Rovers: Isted; Knowles (Mitchell 68), Inniss, Kanu (Haughton 46), Buyabu (Kengni 60); Bunks, Mendy; Bamba (Pemberton 46), Whitwell, Clarke (Dausch 60); Babalola.
Subs not used: Pagel, Moore.
Truro City: Stone; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Harrison, Donnellan, Riley-Lowe; Dean, Hasani, En-Neyah; Deeming, Harvey (Jephcott 82), Johnson-Fisher.
Subs not used: Lavercombe, Bell, Law, Palfrey, Kinsey, Marsh.
Referee: Jason Richardson.
Attendance: 2,160, including 157 away fans
Star Man: Harry Whitwell
