Horseman is looking to build up momentum

DAVID Horseman is targeting three points against Grimsby for his Forest Green Rovers side this afternoon in order to get back in touch with the pack in the lower reaches of League Two.

The Green Devils are one of three teams in danger of being cut adrift at the foot of the standings along with Sutton and Tranmere.

Bottom side Sutton have 11 points from 17 games, while Forest Green and Tranmere both have 13 points from 16 and 17 matches respectively.

Today’s visitors to the New Lawn, Grimsby, are four points ahead of the Gloucestershire side and the New Lawn head coach knows today is an ideal opportunity to close the gap between themselves and the pack in 21st place and upwards.

Horseman said: “We are four points away from them at the moment. If we could beat them then we are back up with a little group and we are not too far away.

“I look at Barrow (2-0 home defeat last month) and I thought that we absolutely hammered them, but did not score – their keeper got man of the match and they have not lost since. Sometimes I think a little bit of luck with a few injuries and just to get some sort of momentum and you can fly up the League.”

Although Forest Green slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Tranmere last week, Horseman hopes his men can build upon the momentum they gained from their midweek FA Cup replay win over Scarborough, where they scored four times in the first half before winning 5-2.

The head coach added: “I think the boys were really professional in their approach and particularly early in the game, you start well, you score an early goal and it kind of settles everybody down a little bit.”

Tyrese Omotoye was among the scorers on Tuesday, and Horseman hopes that goal can give the young front man some confidence in front of goal.

The boss continued: “It is no secret that he (Omotoye) has to score a lot more goals, but he brings lots of qualities.

“He runs inside, he presses well, he is full of energy, but we need lots and lots of goals.

“It is really good for his confidence and belief (the Scarborough goal), and to show everybody that he can score goals and obviously being our only fit striker this week it is going to be important if he gets a chance that he is clinical with it.”

Rovers defender Dom Bernard returns from suspension today after his dismissal for a second yellow card for handball against Tranmere.

Horseman said: “People make mistakes, but he is a really professional lad. He does things properly and he does not mean to get sent off.

“He felt a bit hard done by in the first half by some of the refereeing decisions and then just got his feet wrong for the second one.

“We all make mistakes, you have to hold your hands up, we have all made them in life, it is just in football you get criticised really quickly for it.

“I got the wrong coffee this morning, but I did not scream and shout at the barista for getting it wrong.

“It is only in football where I think you can get absolutely hammered for making a mistake.”