Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage expressed satisfaction following his team’s 3-0 triumph over Slimbridge in a pre-season friendly on Friday evening. Despite the strong performance, Savage emphasized that the club remains in search of a “centre-half with pace” to strengthen their defensive lineup.
The opening goal came in the 24th minute from new signing Neil Kengni, whose precise low shot found the bottom corner of the net. Savage praised the impact of the recent acquisitions, highlighting the exceptional displays from Kengni, Laurent Mendy, Tre Pemberton, and Yahya Bamba. Special recognition was given to defenders Will Merrett and Jose Marquez for their resilience on challenging pitch conditions.
Savage noted the impressive contributions of the three players stepping up from lower leagues, commending their physical power and eagerness. “It’s their first experience as professional footballers, and they’re grateful for the chance to train and play in such a professional environment,” he said.
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Christian Doidge netted the second goal from the penalty spot late in the game after being fouled inside the area. Shortly thereafter, winger Tom Knowles sealed the win with a deft lob over the goalkeeper. Savage lauded Knowles’ work ethic, especially his defensive effort to recover possession, saying, “If you lose the ball, you sprint back — he covered 30 or 40 yards to get goal side.”
Laurent Mendy, who joined from Macclesfield less than three days earlier, stood out in midfield and defence. Savage expressed strong confidence in Mendy’s ability, predicting he could become one of the league’s best players this season.
Goalkeeper Luke McNicholas was unavailable due to a minor groin injury, allowing Fiachra Pagel to play 84 minutes before academy graduate Callum Godfrey finished the match. Savage reported a few injury concerns, including Cian Harries recovering from a calf strain and the absence of “big Ryan,” describing the latter as a significant setback.
Despite challenges, Savage praised his squad’s commitment during an intense first week under his management. “They’ve trained hard with dynamic sessions, and I told them to give me everything,” he said. To reward their efforts, Savage gave the players a half-day off ahead of the weekend.
In terms of coaching staff, Savage confirmed that Dan Connor and Wayne Brown will remain part of his team, valuing their experience since Connor joined in 2019.
Reflecting on his first week in charge, Savage expressed pride in the team’s performance and incremental adoption of his tactical approach. “We’re only one friendly in, but you can already see the way I want my team to play.”
Match lineups:
Slimbridge: Sarkodie; Mara (Mann 73), Hunt (Mulraney 73), Ponting (Tainton 78), Hitchings (C); Evans (C. Blacker 73), Kang (Barclay 78); Shutt (Bennett 57), Smith (Dark 57), Smith (Hughes 63), Ahmed (L. Blacker 57).
Forest Green Rovers: Pagel (Godfrey 84); Pemberton (Bonnick 45), Merrett (Bunker 45), Moore-Taylor (Long), Robson (Sanniola 45); May (Aldridge 45), Mendy (McCann 45), Marquez (Sercombe 45); Bamba (McAllister 45), Quigley (Doidge 45), Mangni (Knowles 45).
Referee: Nat Wormleighton.
Attendance: 845.