Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage praised his team and backroom staff following an impressive 4-2 victory over Woking at The New Lawn on Tuesday evening. The win marked Rovers’ first league success in a month, powered by second-half goals from Nick Haughton, Ricardo Rees, and Tom Knowles.
The match exploded into life early on, with three goals scored inside the first 15 minutes. Oliver Sanderson opened the scoring for Woking after Forest Green’s Abraham Kanu was caught out of position. However, Rovers quickly responded when January signing Gabe Kircough netted his first goal for the club with a header that actually came off his shoulder, directing a Jayden Clarke free kick into the corner.
Despite leveling the match briefly, Woking regained the lead through Joseph Gbobe just 90 seconds later. But Forest Green showed resilience after the break. Man of the Match Haughton made an instant impact by hitting the post before expertly converting a free kick from 20 yards out. Minutes later, Rees completed the turnaround with a clinical finish, capitalizing on a deflected pass inside the box.
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“We needed that win tonight. It wasn’t just about the result — the performance was electric. Pace, power, creativity — everyone gave their all,” Savage said.
Savage lauded the contributions of his recruits and loan players, praising Sporting Director Mark Bowen’s recruitment strategy for bringing in high-quality young talents like Kircough and Rees. He highlighted Rees’s passion and confidence, noting his game-winning goal was no surprise.
Adding to the excitement, Tom Knowles sealed the victory late in the game with a powerful strike from 25 yards, boosting his confidence after a challenging spell. Savage praised Knowles’s effort, emphasizing the importance of the goal for both the player and the team.
Tactically, Savage reverted to his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, fielding a technically skilled and dynamic lineup. Christian Doidge made a late substitute appearance, marking his 200th appearance for Forest Green Rovers and cementing his status as a club legend.
Injury concerns arose as Jay Mingi was forced off after 30 minutes due to a knee problem, believed to be a burst cyst. Savage expressed optimism that Mingi would recover quickly, with hopes he will be available for the upcoming match.
Looking ahead, Forest Green face a tough challenge against high-flying York City. Savage remains confident and focused: “We’re not worried about York. We’ll play our game and see if they can stop us.”
Forest Green Rovers: Isted; Mingi (Knowles 29), Kanu, Kircough, Buyabu (Morrison 87); Mendy, Nwoko; McAllister, Haughton (Bunker 81), Clarke (Doidge 81); Rees (Mitchell 87). Subs not used: Pagel, Kengni.
Woking: Jaaskelainen; Drewe, Odusina, Okoli, Richards, Hinds (Tu. Akinola 66); Syla (Ti. Akinola 66), Turner (Beautyman 81), Andrews; Sanderson (Osude 66), Gbobe (O’Brien 46). Subs not used: Ross, Ward.
Referee: Elliot Swallow.
Attendance: 1,064 (70 away).