We want to impress fans – Horseman

DAVID Horseman insists that his Forest Green Rovers players can demonstrate their true potential when Crawley visit the New Lawn in League Two this afternoon,

Rovers were looking to build upon their high point of the season so far – the 5-0 home win over Colchester – when Barrow rolled up in midweek, but the Cumbrians scored twice in the opening quarter of the game to run out 2-0 winners, dumping Forest Green back into the fourth tier drop zone.

Horseman said: “It feels like that game summed our season up, two really soft goals which are easily preventable and endless amounts of chances missed at the other end.

“We were really hoping that we could go back-to-back with home wins on Tuesday night and in different circumstances maybe you do that.

“But we want to try to show the fans that we can create chances and really cause teams problems at the New Lawn, and that will be what we will try to do.”

Mid-table Crawley, however, will be no pushovers under ex

Forest Green assistant manager Scott Lindsey, pictured above.

Horseman added: “They are really expansive with the ball, quite exciting. They pass the ball a lot, build up with a three, they bring one of their back four into the midfield so there are a lot of rotations and they have got a really hungry team.

“When I was looking at some of their players, they have recruited really well out of non-League this year. I think they are a really hungry squad and well-coached, particularly with the ball.”

On Lindsey retuning to the New Lawn, Horseman said: “I am sure he has got some really good memories; I think he was here for a little while and I have come across him a few times.

“He seems a brilliant guy and he is a really good coach as well. So I would imagine that you want to get one over on a former club when you go back, not in a nasty way, but you know you want to show how you have developed.”

The two sides have met ten times in the Football League so far, with five wins for Forest Green and two wins for Crawley and three draws.

The last home game for Forest Green against Crawley was the 6-3 win in the 2021/22 season which saw Nicky Cadden get a hat-trick and Jamille Matt, Matty Stevens and Jake Young all getting on the scoresheet. A repeat would be very timely for Horseman.