No time for excuses, says head coach

FOREST Green Rovers head coach Mark Cooper insists his injury-hit squad must come through a tough spell without making excuses.

The Gloucestershire outfit play away to Mansfield Town tonight, looking to respond to Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Cambridge.

Third-placed Rovers are level on points with Tranmere in fourth and four points behind leaders and county rivals Cheltenham in the League Two standings.

“We’re not looking for excuses,” Cooper told the official club website. “We’re just trying to get through this period and put as many points on the board until we get those injured players back out there. That’s not going to be now, but Elliott Whitehouse is available (after suspension), which well help us.

“We’re hoping Jordan MooreTaylor will be available for us on Saturday (at home to Bolton) and that would be a massive boost for us. He’s a great player who works as a defender or a midfielder.”

The Forest Green boss, below, believes the players he does select should have enough about them to keep taking points.

“If you go down to the park and have an 11v11 with jumpers for goalposts, the team who runs, fights and competes the most will win the game,” Cooper added.

“If you don’t compete in a game, it’s impossible to win, and for whatever reason, we didn’t compete on Saturday.

“Sometimes that can happen, you have those off-days. The bonus is, we have an opportunity now to get back on track.”

Mansfield are one of the eight sides to beat Forest Green in the League this season, emerging victorious at the New Lawn in their first game under boss Nigel Clough, who took over following the departure of former Bristol Rovers boss Graham Coughlan.

“Nigel had an incredible effect when he came in,” said Cooper. “He’s a top manager for this level and above. He always gets his teams playing well and I’m sure they’ll be a real force next season.

“They’re always competitive in the matches they play, so they’ll be a dangerous opponent. At this stage of the season, at least seven or eight of your 11 players have to step up every week and be better than the opponent.”

Yeovil Town host Notts County in the National League tonight.