Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage conceded that winning the league now “looks very unlikely” following their 1-0 loss to Brackley Town on Boxing Day. The deciding moment came early with Michael Nottingham’s first-half header securing the victory for Brackley.
Savage praised Brackley for their determination, noting, “They showed more desire, more energy, and that’s commendable for a part-time side training only twice a week. Credit to Gavin Cowan and his team.” However, he was critical of his own squad’s performance, apologizing to the fans for what he deemed “an unacceptable display.”
He reflected on managerial decisions, revealing, “I gave the players Christmas Day off, but maybe I should have brought them in. That performance just hasn’t been in us all season.” Savage acknowledged the bleak outlook for the league title, stating, “The other contenders all won, so it’s about regrouping and focusing on the next game.”
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Brackley’s goal came from a set piece, a recurring problem for Rovers. “It’s another goal conceded from a set piece,” Savage lamented. “I give people ownership of roles at the club, but I might have to start doing everything myself. The players lacked the desire to stop the cross and win the second ball, which is unacceptable.”
The defeat extended Forest Green’s poor Boxing Day record to 13 games without a win, with their only success being against Newport County in 2018. Despite this, Savage encouraged fans not to lose faith: “My players never let me down. We’re in this together. We’ve been magnificent this season, and we’re aiming for a play-off finish.”
Injuries affected the team as well, with midfielder Kyle McAllister forced off after 57 minutes due to a calf injury expected to sideline him for up to four weeks. Savage admitted, “We have injuries, but I’m not making excuses. Everyone who took the field is good enough to beat Brackley.” He emphasized the need to strengthen the squad in January, “We hope to bring in players who will improve the team, though competing with league clubs for signings is a challenge.”
A controversial moment occurred just before halftime when Tom Knowles went down in the box, seemingly fouled by Shane Byrne. The referee, however, booked Byrne for simulation. Savage was adamant, “It was a clear penalty. We’ve reviewed it, and it was a stonewall call that was missed.”
Several chances went begging for Forest Green, including misses from Temi Babalola and substitute Christian Doidge. Savage underscored the frustration: “We can’t keep creating chances, dominating the game, and failing to score. That performance won’t be repeated.”
Goalkeeper Harry Isted made two impressive saves in the first half, one following a defensive error by Abraham Kanu and another from a volley near the penalty area. Yet, Savage remained unsatisfied: “We still conceded one goal; there’s no positives today.”
The match ended 1-0 to Brackley Town, sending Forest Green Rovers back to the drawing board as they contend with injuries, missed opportunities, and a challenging league campaign ahead.