Forest Green prepare for a midweek National League fixture at home to Eastleigh on Wednesday evening. The match at The New Lawn kicks off at 19:45, with both clubs aiming to move up from their current mid-table positions.
Forest Green sit 17th with 15 points from their opening 12 games, a record of four wins, three draws and five losses. Their recent form has been inconsistent, with a win, three draws and a defeat from their last five outings. The team will be looking to build on a solid 0-0 draw away at Barrow last time out. They have scored 19 goals this season but conceded 22.
Recent form
The last home game was a convincing 5-0 victory over Chesham United on October 20. That result is sandwiched between a goalless draw with the same opponent and a heavy 4-2 defeat to Hartlepool United. The side has shown they can score, but defensive frailties have been a recurring theme. In their last match, they kept a clean sheet against Barrow, a positive step forward.
Opponent analysis
Visitors Eastleigh arrive in 15th place, just two points ahead of Forest Green. Their recent results have been similarly mixed, with wins over Boston United and Brentwood Town followed by losses to AFC Hornchurch and Woking. Their last outing was a 1-1 draw with Southend United. Eastleigh's attack has been less prolific than Forest Green's, but they have generally been tighter at the back.
Team news
Forest Green's last starting lineup featured E. Ross in goal, with a defence including K. Abrefa and T. McIntyre. K. Ajayi, F. Sass and J. Clarke were also involved, alongside midfielders T. Campbell, K. McAllister and K. Kelly, with S. Etaluku and J. Marquez in attack.
Eastleigh's most recent side included N. Townsend between the posts, with experienced campaigners like J. Caprice and O. Hawkins in their ranks. I. Bakare, T. Dobson-Ventura and R. Johnson formed part of their defensive unit, with H. Sidwell, J. Cousins and A. Blair in midfield. They are expected to set up in a compact shape to frustrate the home side.
Wednesday's game is the 15th round of the National League season. A win for Forest Green could see them close the gap to the top half of the standings. Their next fixture after this is a trip to face promotion-chasing Barnet on Saturday, making a positive result here even more important to build momentum. The team's goal minutes show they are most dangerous in the final 15 minutes of each half, a period where they have scored 8 of their 19 league goals.
