It’s about giving the players belief, says Cooper

MARK Cooper has warned his Forest Green Rovers players that “nobody is going to give us the win to get us started again” following their severe dip in form, writes Laurie Martin.

The Gloucestershire side have taken just one point from their last five matches and their only goal in that time was a consolation strike in a 4-1 defeat at Bradford. Yet they remain just two points off an automatic promotion spot.

Today they visit a 20th-placed Walsall team that have drawn their last four games – three of them 0-0.

Asked about his side’s current lack of confidence, Cooper said: “It’s just about trying to give the players that belief. We are what we are and we have to try and build them up.

“Giving them energy is the key thing. One win can change everything. I just want the players to enjoy it and that’s been the message all season. There’s no pressure from us, it’s just go and enjoy yourselves, play to a structure, have a run about and compete. That’s all we need to do.

“Nobody’s going to give you anything in this League. Nobody’s going to give us a win to get us started again, we have to earn that. We have to go and work hard, then show our ability. We have to be disciplined, defend properly and attack properly. We’ve got to go and enjoy running about and playing football.”

The season-ending injury to topscorer Jamille Matt has seemingly hit Forest Green particularly hard.

Cooper added: “We have to keep going, we’ve got to keep that energy and belief. I believe that the players will come good. We’ve had injuries, there’s no getting away from that, but we can’t use that as the be-all and end-all excuse. The boys have to step up and take their opportunities.”