Forest Green Rovers boss Steve Cotterill said “there are going to be bumps in the road, but it is about us staying focused, being determined and being honest” after his side’s 2-0 win at home against Walsall.
The first half of the game saw some chances for both sides, but not anything too clinical to threaten either goalkeeper too much.
The second-half began with Walsall applying some pressure, but in the 64th minute Christian Doidge’s effort looked to have hit the post and was played into the path of Emmanuel Osadebe who calmly tapped home to open the scoring.
Just five minutes later, the Saddlers won a penalty after Jamie Robson fouled Joe Foulkes in the box.
When former Forest Green player Isaac Hutchinson took the penalty, Vicente Reyes made a spectacular save.
“Vini (Vicente Reyes) has been fantastic ever since has been here,” Cotterill stated of Reyes. He is a wonderful young man, and he deserves all the praise he receives today. However, it always takes a team effort, and Walsall will have some more opportunities where we have some incredible blocks in today as well.
“We will win big because they (Walsall) are a good team and I am sure they will do well.”
David Okagbue was sent off for a second yellow card shortly after, having brought down Christian Doidge during a counterattack.
Rovers’ lead was extended in the 81st minute by Kyle McAllister, following a foul in the box by Walsall’s Jackson Smith on Tyrese Omotoye.
When Omotoye entered the game, he performed admirably. Cotterill commented, “Your substitutes work sometimes and they don’t.”
“You hope everything goes according to plan based on the picture you’re seeing before he appears. It gave them a different problem, in my opinion, and that’s what we had to address.
“Well done to Tyrese, we needed to shake things up a little because I didn’t think the game was going anywhere, but up until then, I thought they were better than us.”
Today, Ryan Inniss was cleared to resume his suspension following his second yellow card against Tranmere and helped the Rovers keep another clean sheet.
“I thought Ryan was tremendous today,” Cotterill remarked, praising his defensive unit. It was more than simply the suspension; he also has a pelvic issue.
“With the scan, we did discover this week that he does not have a hernia, which was a tremendous relief as that could have required three weeks of bed rest.
Callum Jones, who had a hernia procedure and was likely on the bench a week or two too soon, was able to return to the team today. Bless him, he wants to help everyone.
At the conclusion of the game, the fourth official displayed eight minutes on the screen.
Cotterill commented, “We have added eight minutes on for today,” regarding the lengthy halt. Without really going and looking at it, I’m aware that there were a couple stoppages, so it might have been accurate.
“I would have assumed that perhaps more should have been introduced when we played Wrexham last week and perhaps fewer when we went to Grimsby.
“It’s funny because you can’t really complain about it because the score and the status of the game always decide how many minutes you want added on one minute and less the next.”
After Colchester United’s defeat at home, Rovers have now shortened the distance to safety to two points
Barrow.
On the points deficit being reduced, Cotterill said: “What we need to do is try and get above that line.
“It was nine points when I arrived, but we have made progress.
“There will be setbacks along the way, and there always will be, but we need to remain committed, focused, and honest because we won’t suddenly become the best team in the league.”
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