Forest Green Rovers face a trip to Kenilworth Road this Saturday to play Luton Town in the FA Cup first round. The National League side will be looking to cause an upset against their League One opponents in the 1/128-finals, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.
Forest Green head into the cup tie after a 2-2 draw with Harrogate Town in the league last weekend. That result leaves them 16th in the National League standings with 19 points from their opening 14 matches. Their recent form shows two wins, two draws and one defeat from the last five, a sequence that includes a 2-0 victory over Eastleigh and a 5-0 thrashing of Chesham United. In the league this season, they have scored 23 goals and conceded 24, giving them a goal difference of minus one.
Team news
Forest Green's side that drew with Harrogate featured McNicholas in goal behind a back line of Abrefa, Mabete and McIntyre. Kengni, Campbell, Clarke, McAllister and Kelly operated in midfield, with Grigg leading the attack. Luton’s last starting eleven, from their League One defeat to Milton Keynes Dons, included Shea, Jones, Andersen, Johnston and Johnson.
Luton have not played a competitive match since October 17, when they lost to MK Dons. Forest Green, by contrast, have been in consistent action and will hope that sharper match fitness can be a factor. The club will hope its players' finishing at Kenilworth Road is clinical. After the cup tie, Rovers' attention returns to the league with an away fixture against Woking on November 14.
Saturday’s cup match offers a break from the league campaign and a chance to test themselves against higher-level opposition at a historic venue. The club's injury list remains a concern, with several key players undergoing assessment ahead of the trip, details of which can be found on the club's official injuries page.
