Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage praised his team’s exceptional performance after their commanding 5-0 win against Morecambe on the final day of the regular season. This decisive victory marks their largest winning margin of the campaign and sets up an exciting play-off eliminator against Boreham Wood on Wednesday evening.
Savage expressed immense satisfaction with his side’s movement, creativity, and intensity throughout the match. “Today was our day, and it could have been more; we were brilliant. When we play like that, we are unstoppable. I don’t care who we play; I thought there were some unbelievable performances,” he said.
The manager also acknowledged the challenges posed by injuries during the season but emphasized the team’s resilience. “If we’d had Ricardo Rees and Sean Etaluku all season, it might have been even better, but we have a squad capable of beating anyone on our day.”
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Forest Green’s seventh-place finish was confirmed after Southend United’s 2-1 win over Wealdstone, setting up an away fixture against the fourth-placed Boreham Wood. Looking ahead, Savage remains optimistic and confident: “Whatever happens in the play-offs now, we’ve shown this season how good we can be. Boreham Wood is a tough side who rested many players today, but we’ll go into Wednesday full of confidence and energy.”
The scoring opened through Jili Buyabu, whose deflected shot found the top corner after skilfully maneuvering inside the box. Jayden Clarke then won a penalty, converted coolly by McAllister, giving Forest Green a 2-0 lead. Shortly after coming on, Gabe Kircough headed in the third goal from a set-piece routine.
Ricardo Rees added a fourth by attacking a cross delivered by Tre Pemberton, before doubling his tally five minutes later with a follow-up finish after a powerful shot from Knowles was spilled by the goalkeeper.
Savage also applauded the impact of substitutes, noting D’mani’s intelligent movement stretched the opposition defense, creating space for the attacking midfielders. Club legend Christian Doidge made his final home appearance for Forest Green, entering the pitch on the hour mark—a moment celebrated warmly by Savage.
Reflecting on the season, Savage highlighted the team’s impressive statistics: “Finishing seventh with 81 points, 82 goals scored—13 more than last year—and 23 wins is incredible. Although we have fewer points than last year’s third-place tally, we’ve maintained a high level of performance all season.”
Forest Green Rovers starting XI: Pagel; Pemberton, Mendy, Moore-Taylor (Kircough 53), Buyabu (Kengni 65); Campbell, Clarke; Etaluku (Haughton 53), McAllister (Rees 65), Knowles; Mellor (Doidge 60). Subs not used: Isted, Nwoko.
Morecambe starting XI: Boney; Conte (Jameson 70), Hogan, Fogarty, Akindileni, Edwards; Nolan (Fairclough 66), Songo’o (Cain 66), Lewis, Tolitt (Campbell 82); Wright (Ogwuru 66). Subs not used: Scales, Popov.
Referee: Matthew Russell
Attendance: 2,482 (122 away)