Burchnall: The focus is on what we can control

FOREST Green Rovers head coach Ian Burchnall insists that his focus is on his side’s performance rather than trying to catch the teams above them.

Rovers are currently bottom of the Sky Bet League One table on goal difference – with all four clubs in the relegation zone on 14 points.

Today’s opponents Cambridge are the club immediately above the drop zone, six points better off, so Forest Green could halve the deficit to safety with three points at the New Lawn this afternoon (1pm kick-off ).

Asked about the opportunity to gain ground on a rival, Burchnall told reporters: “We’re thinking about ourselves and our performance and trying to deliver the best possible game we can. I don’t try to think too much about the League table, this one is worth three points, we’re a little distance away (from safety), so we’re conscious of that but the focus is on the game.

“We want to win, Cambridge want to win, it’s obvious. I think everybody looks at the League table and is aware of it, but every game is going to be important, there’s plenty of football left to play, we’re six adrift at the moment, we don’t want to extend that any further, but the most important thing is to focus on what we can control, and that’s a good performance at the weekend.

Forest Green earned a moraleboosting draw at Oxford in the League at fortnight ago, and won in the FA Cup against non-League side Alvechurch last weekend.

Burchnall added: “It felt like we performed quite well away at Oxford, so we were trying to keep that momentum, but we did 90 minutes with a fairly changed team against Cheltenham (in the EFL Trophy), and then against Alvechurch.

“The three 90 minutes we’ve played we’ve not been beaten in those three, so hopefully we can take that and add it into the League.”

Jamille Matt, Jordan Moore-Taylor, Ben Stevenson, Armani Little and Kyle McAllister are all in contention to play following various issues, but striker Matty Stevens is still around a month away from a return.

■ Swindon Town boss Scott Lindsey will wait a week before including Wales World Cup call-up Jonny Williams in his squad.

Williams was part of the Wales squad in Qatar but did not get onto the pitch in Group B.

He returned home earlier this week, but will not be involved when Swindon travel to Crawley Town this afternoon.

“The fact that he has gone out there as part of that squad is brilliant and I think that it is fantastic for the football club,” said Lindsey.

“For me personally, he is the only player that I have coached who has gone to a World Cup, so it is a proud moment for me in many ways.

“I wanted to see Jonny get on and I think it would have been great for the football club if he would have got some minutes on the pitch.

“I did speak to him and he said he’s had a great time and enjoyed the experience. He’ll come back and will be ready to go again.

“We will integrate him into training next week and hopefully he will be raring to go the weekend after (against AFC Wimbledon).”

Tim Goode/PA Josh March goes for goal during last week’s win for Forest Green against Alvechurch