Forest Green Rovers ended a three-game losing run with a deserved victory at in-form Hornchurch, giving manager Robbie Savage relief at the end of a difficult spell. Ricardo Rees scored the decisive early goal and goalkeeper Ethan Ross produced a late save to preserve the lead and secure a clean sheet.
The result came in the sixth game of the season and followed defeats that had increased pressure around the Gloucestershire club. Savage said the performance was not only important because of the points, but also because of the reaction from a young squad that had continued to work during the difficult run.
Rees finish rewards planned attack
Forest Green began strongly and created a series of opportunities before and after Rees opened the scoring. Savage said the visitors carried forward the form they had shown in the first half against Altrincham, while Hornchurch offered little threat during much of the match.
The goal came from a move shaped by the manager’s instructions to Sean Etaluku. Savage wanted Etaluku to remain wide, attack his opponent one-on-one and use the extra yard to deliver a cross. Kyle McAllister was moving inside, creating a lopsided attacking shape that gave Etaluku room on the flank.
Etaluku’s delivery allowed Rees to attack the near post and finish for his second goal of the season. Savage said the movement, the cross and the finish all reflected work done in training. Rovers had also threatened before the goal, with Rees missing an attempt, a header forcing a good save from the Hornchurch goalkeeper and further balls being played across the box.
“We thoroughly deserved the win,” Savage said, adding that Rovers had created numerous chances while the hosts had not seriously troubled them for long periods. He said the main frustration was that Forest Green had not been more clinical after getting into promising positions.
Ross save and defensive change protect lead
Hornchurch did create a significant late opening. A powerful strike appeared capable of changing the outcome, but Ross got down to his right to make an outstanding save. Savage said the intervention prevented Forest Green from being punished after controlling much of the afternoon.
The goalkeeper’s save was part of a wider defensive effort that Savage praised repeatedly. Hornchurch posed a threat from throw-ins and set pieces, but Forest Green headed away and cleared the danger. The manager described the clean sheet as especially satisfying because it came from the team defending together rather than relying on one individual.
Rovers altered their shape during the second half as the match demanded a more defensive approach. The side moved into a 5-4-1 formation, with Ollie Ewing on the left, Kai Ajayi on the right, two players in central midfield and Gabe Kircough moving back into a centre-half position. Kairo Mitchell was introduced to provide greater physical presence.
“One thing we’ve been good at is identifying what the game needs, and it needed that,” Savage said. He explained that the changes were not simply an attempt to retreat after taking the lead. In his view, the game required the extra defensive structure even if Hornchurch had not produced the late chance.
New faces make an impact
Savage was reluctant to give the credit to only one player and said the performances across the team deserved recognition. Kai Ajayi made his first start for Forest Green, while Reading loanee Kelvin Abrefa made his debut and impressed in the unfamiliar surroundings of a competitive match.
The manager said Ajayi had become a professional footballer only eight weeks earlier and was still adapting to the demands of the game. He praised the player’s work both in the match and away from it, recalling that Ajayi had encouraged him after the previous week’s result by telling him to keep going because the players believed in him.
Kelvin Abrefa, Tate Campbell and Jayden Clarke were also among those singled out for their contributions. Savage praised Kario Mitchell for the effort he had put into training before coming off the bench, while also recognising Gabe Kircough and Rees. He said it was difficult for a manager to maintain the spirits of players who were not selected, but that the current group had responded positively.
For Savage, the support within the squad mattered because several players entering the team or influencing the game from the bench had been waiting for their opportunity. The victory therefore offered encouragement beyond the starting eleven.
Supporters and owners share the lift
The win also had significance for people away from the pitch. Savage said he had spoken to owner Dale Vince before the match, as well as Asif Rehmanwala, and believed the result mattered to the owners, staff, players and supporters. He said the club’s backing had been important while results were poor, while also acknowledging that managers are ultimately judged on results if defeats continue.
“So today was massive for us all. Not just me, Mark (Bowen), the owners, everybody associated with the club and the fans,” Savage said.
He went across to the Forest Green supporters after the final whistle and thanked them for their backing. Savage referred to the difficulty of facing criticism after the defeat at Fylde, but said the travelling fans had been vocal and supportive when the team needed encouragement at Hornchurch.
He urged supporters to stay behind what he described as a young group and warned that the season would be a “rollercoaster”. Savage said the players wanted to win as much as the supporters did and that positive backing could help them during difficult passages of matches.
Belief remains despite difficult spell
According to Savage, the losing run had not damaged the players’ belief. He said he had spoken to experienced managers during the week about handling a poor run and had been advised to repeat the work being done rather than abandon the team’s methods.
The manager pointed to the quality of Forest Green’s training and the data being reviewed by the coaching staff. He said the available information was positive apart from the Boreham Wood game and that watching the players train had continued to reinforce his belief in the group.
At Hornchurch, however, the performance was based on resilience rather than elaborate possession football. “Today was a different us. It was a battling, massive performance,” Savage said. He added that it was not a match for playing around at the back and producing intricate patterns, but maintained that Forest Green had earned the victory.
Savage also paid tribute to Hornchurch manager Daryl Mahon and Anton Ferdinand, saying they had been supportive and had done an exceptional job at the club. Hornchurch remain above Forest Green in the table, leaving Rovers with ground to make up despite the welcome result.
Bristol Rovers game comes before Gateshead
Forest Green’s next fixture is a behind-closed-doors match against Bristol Rovers on Monday at Bristol Rovers’ training ground. Savage said the clubs have developed a regular arrangement in which they visit each other’s training bases, and he praised the relationship with Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans.
Rovers are then scheduled to train hard on Tuesday before turning their attention to Gateshead. Savage described that as another difficult game, but hoped the Hornchurch performance would begin a stronger sequence of results.
He also declined to criticise the officials, saying refereeing and fourth-official duties were difficult and that he preferred to speak to people in the way he would want to be addressed. Away from the immediate result, Savage said he remained fully committed to management: after returning home, he planned to watch the match again, study the highlights, analyse Gateshead’s game and begin preparations with his staff.
“Three wins, hopefully now we’re off and running,” Savage said.