Forest Green in fight mode now, says boss Ball

JIMMY Ball believes the “different pressure” Forest Green Rovers are under can see them reclaim their position in the League Two play-off places over the final two matches of the regular season.

Rovers have been challenging for promotion all season, but finally dropped out of the top seven after Tuesday’s home defeat to Barrow, the latest in a long line of poor results over recent weeks.

Their fellow promotion-hopefuls

Tranmere are the visitors to the New Lawn this afternoon.

Interim boss Ball said: “We’re in fight mode now. That’s the only way to be. It’s pretty clear. Sometimes it can be a blessing, there’s a different pressure when you’re holding onto something, clinging on, compared to when you’re trying to get there.

“I’m sure Salford (one point and one place above Forest Green in the table) are feeling that different sort of pressure this week. Instead of scrapping for something, they’re now holding onto something.”

Of today’s opponents Tranmere, who still have a slim chance of going up automatically, Ball added: “I feel like we need to play with legs and energy. We’re the youngest team in the League, and they’re the oldest team in the League.

“We’ve got to run them, work them, chase, press and scrap for our lives. We’ve just got to be more clinical in front of goal.”