Forest Green boss Robbie Savage’s infectious energy is driving his side to play full-throttle football.
A high-octane display on Saturday, saw Rovers overwhelm Mark Cooper’s Yeovil Town in a match that blew the roof of the New Lawn. Savage picked up a booking for a celebratory burst down the touchline after striker Kairo Mitchell sealed the points on 90 minutes.
On the booking, Savage said: “I’m so proud and I was a bit emotional, I got a yellow card for over-celebrating which I don’t mind. It’s emotional and you imagine, you create all those chances and then near the end they nick one in the last minute, you imagine their bench.
“When you’re in such a technical and demanding area, you know how emotional the game can be. I can’t change who I am.
“If we had lost, would have been so felt flat and low. Sacrifices you make as a manager—going back to my apartment on my own, my family in the north west again that’s hard, so, I’m going to enjoy this moment and every win with the fans. And yes, losses will hurt—but that’s who I am. People tell me I should stay level, but I can’t. I’ve always played like that and I’m a person like that and I enjoy the victories and when we lose, I feel low – that’s just me.”
Savage hailed midfielder Laurent Mendy as “the best player on the park by far” after his swashbuckling display inspired the 2–0 win over Yeovil.
Signed from Macclesfield — Savage’s former club — the 28-year-old midfielder has made a seamless step up after quitting his job as a Manchester kitchen porter, and his new manager believes he belongs in the EFL. Savage said: “He’s 28 and he should be playing league football. I want to shout from the rooftops how good he is and what he’s been through. What a performance from him today.”
Rovers dominated from the start, but had to wait until the final 15 minutes to break Yeovil’s resistance. Sheffield United loanee Jili Buyabu opened the scoring with a deflected strike on 75 minutes before striker Kario Mitchell sealed the points on 90 minutes.
Yeovil’s frustrations boiled over late on as Jake Wannall was sent off for a second yellow card. Savage himself was cautioned for a high-octane touchline celebration after Mitchell’s clincher.
Rovers were quickly out of the traps – pinning Yeovil Town back with two quick-fire corners. The first shot in anger arrived on 18 minutes – on-loan Coventry City midfielder Issac Moore stepped on the gas to find Jayden Clarke who watched his skidder fizz wide of scrambling Yeovil keeper Jed Ward. Rovers’ high-octane football had the Glovers on the backfoot – Kyle McAllister induced a smothered save from the plunging Ward before Wannall found his way into the book as he upended the rampaging Yahya Bamba.
The outstanding Mendy was bossing proceedings – his quick feet fashioned a chance that just cleared the top of Ward’s bar.
Yeovil’s frustrations reached boiling point – former Forest Green midfielder Charlie Cooper incurring a yellow card.
Savage made a triple substitution ushering on big guns Christian Doidge, Nick Haughton and Sheffield United loanee Jili Buyabu on 54 minutes. Rovers kept knocking on the Yeovil door as the Glovers battened down the hatches.
Rovers were positively eye-catching. Buyabu adding another dimension and Haughton pulling the strings – skewing just wide. Doidge’s header was inches from breaking the deadlock with 20 minutes to go as he raced onto Buyabu’s delicious cross.
Ward kept Yeovil in the game – scooping Jordan Moore-Taylor’s strike through a plethora of bodies. However, He was powerless to stop Buyabu’s deflected drive to nose Rovers ahead on 75 minutes.
Tom Knowles’ audacious lob from inside his own half hit the post with Ward beaten all-ends-up and the Glovers were reduced to 10, Wannall picking up a second yellow for handball.
Rovers made it a game over second on 90 minutes – Mitchell sweeping home after good work in the box from Ryan Inniss. Savage’s burst of celebration along the touchline landed the Rovers’ boss a late booking.
For visiting boss Mark Cooper, returning to his old club, it was a tough afternoon. He admitted: “We played against a good team and tried to counter-attack. A poor day — Forest Green deserved to win and I apologise to our fans. We have to take our medicine and move on.”
Forest Green Rovers 2 (Buyabu 75), ( Mitchell 90) Yeovil 0
Team line-ups:
Forest Green (4-2-3-1): Nicholas 7; Pemberton 8, Kanu 8, Moore-Taylor 7, Kengni 8 (Buyabu 54, 9 ); Mendy 9, Moore 7 (Haughton 54, 7 ); McAllister 8 (Inniss 87), Clarke 8 (Knowles 70, ), Bamba 7 (Doidge 54, 7 ); Mitchell 8
Subs not used: Pagel, Whitwell
Yeovil (4-4-2): Ward 6; Pendleton 7, Wannall 7, Williams 6, Whittle 5; Cooper 5 (Greenslade 81), Cousin-Dawson 6, Sims 7 (Morias 81), McCormick 6 (McGavin 54,6 ); Campbell 5 ( Daly 46,6), Jarvis 5
Subs not used: Gould, Wodskou, Ferguson
Half time: Forest Green 0-0 Yeovil
Referee: Andrew Humphries
Star man: (Laurent Mendy Forest Green, midfielder)
Attendance: 2,118
Rating:5 /5
