PREVIEW: Forest Green Rovers v Luton Town

This term has seen Rovers replace Luton as the hotly-tipped club to win promotion to the Football League, but they’re finding that as Hatters have, being favourites, doesn’t automatically bring sucess.

After stuffing Hyde, they were then held to a 1-1 draw at Nuneateon and lost to Lincoln, as they have the same amount of points as Town after three games.

Rovers have certainly been using their funds to good extent to give themselves every chance of promotion this season, signing a number of experienced Conference players.

On their way into the club over the summer were the likes of Fleetwood duo Anthony Barry and Andy Mangan, both who were on Luton’s radar at one point.

While Wrexham’s leading scorer Danny Wright, with 16 goals for the Red Dragons also joined, as did midfielder Marcus Kelly from Tamworth.

They have strengthened even further too during pre-season, snapping up two players well known to all Luton fans, Matthew Barnes-Homer and George Pilkington.

Striker Barnes-Homer, who notched 21 goals in 42 games for Macclesfield last season, penned a two-year deal, while Pilkington agreed a two-month loan deal from Mansfield after impressing during a friendly with Weston-super-Mare.

Barnes-Homer scored on his debut against Hyde, but struggled in the next two games as boss David Hockaday said: “I had to start with Matthew when he wasn’t really ready because of injuries.

“He didn’t have much of a pre-season so he needs to get fitter and sharper, which he will do because he’s a quality player with a great attitude.

“There is a lot more to come from him and it’s not fair to judge him yet.”

Hockaday has also moved to strengthen his goalkeeping department, bringing in both Paul White and Adam McHugh.

Former Republic of Ireland U18 Boys Schools international White, 18, has joined from League of Ireland side Cork City, while McHugh, 21, previously had spells at St Mirren and Hartlepool, who he left this summer.

The pair will provide cover for first-choice keeper Sam Russell as understudy Matt Bulman has been made available for loan as he tries to put more pressure on the number one slot.

On their way out though were ex-Town loanee Ben Wright, while Jamie Collins departed too.

Off the field, the club announced home supporters will switch ends from the North Stand to the EESI Stand by the tunnel this season to give Rovers players a boost before kick-off.

Additional benefits will increase stadium capacity to 5,000, which is required should FGR achieve promotion to League Two.

Team news: Danny Wright missed the defeat at Lincoln due to illness, but is fit to return, while Matty Taylor remains a doubt due to his knee injury, even though it isn’t considered serious.

Andy Mangan is also a concern too, as he has missed the opening three fixtures of the campaign with a thigh problem but is now back in training.

Stephen Brogan’s is still out though as are Jamie Turley, Kieron Forbes, Aarran Racine, Reece Styche, Paul Green and Ashley Brown.

Rovers can call upon central defender Eddie Oshodi for the first time this season, with the ex-Watford man’s suspension now completed.

Hockaday said: “People will say what they want to say about us but we haven’t got a big squad.

“What we have got is quality, so the people who play in place of the injured players should be more than good enough to do the job.

“Mangs didn’t train for three or four weeks, so fitness wise he needs to get himself sorted out, and we’re still missing half a dozen players at least who can affect a game.

“I could go on and on about that, but it doesn’t matter. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us and we certainly won’t be feeling sorry for ourselves.”

Hatters are without five players as Solomon Taiwo (groin), Alex Lawless (groin), Anthony Charles (shoulder), Alex Wall (virus) and Danny Fitzsimons (knee) are all out.

Top Skrill scorer - Hatters: Luke Guttridge (2). Rovers: Marcus Kelly (3).

Man in the middle: Brett Huxtable - Has officiated one game this season, as Kidderminster defeated Gateshead 3-1, showing four yellow cards.

Last term he took 19 games, displaying 43 cautions and just two reds.

Was in charge of one Luton league game, the 3-1 home win over Southport, while he also took Rovers 1-1 home draw with Alfreton and a 4-1 victory against Stockport.

In charge: David Hockaday. The 55-year-old enjoyed a lengthy playing career that took in Blackpool and Swindon Town early in his days, before joining Hull City for £50,000 after making 308 appearances for Swindon.

Had a spell at Stoke City, before joining Shrewsbury Town and then dropped into non-league and Cirencester Town.

In 1995 he established the first football academy in the country at Cirencester, The Cirencester Football Academy, which was created in conjunction with the local Sixth Form College. He was head-hunted for many jobs at league clubs and universities and in 2000 joined Graham Taylor at Watford as U18 coach, developing the likes of Tommy Smith and Ashley Young,

Left in 2007 and moved to MK Dons, before switching to Southampton and then Cheltenham Town, becoming manager of FGR in September 2009.

His first season ended in relegation from the Conference, but Rovers were reinstated following Salisbury City’s failure in their appeal against demotion for financial irregularities.

Kept the club safe the year after before finishing 10th in the last two campaigns.

View from the opposition: Boss David Hockaday: “Tomorrow’s match sees two of the pre-season favourites for promotion collide, yet both have managed to collect only four points so far.

“There is no need to panic and we will continue to work on every aspect of our game.

“It’s always a big game against Luton and we’ll look forward to it.”

One to watch: James Norwood - 22-year-old striker enjoyed a fine season in front of goal last term, netting 15 in 41 league games. His form saw him linked with a move to Town and bagged hat-trick for England C during the summer too.

Began his career at Exeter before a loan to Forest Green and then Eastbourne, as he returned to Forest Green permanently in June 2011.

Friendly faces: Rovers defender Ed Asafu-Adjaye came through the ranks at Kenilworth Road and was hugely popular with supporters, making 82 appearances and scoring once.

Was released from Kenilworth Road in July 2012 and was snapped up by FGR, where he has made 25 league apperance so far.

Loanee George Pilkington left Luton after the 2012 season playing 172 games and scoring 12 times in total, opting to pen a two-year deal at Mansfield, but barely featured for the Stags last term and joined FGR on a two month loan, playing all three games so far.

Matthew Barnes-Homer scored 23 in 81 games for Town during 2009-2012, before his release, where he joined Macclesfield, scoring 18 league goals in 37 games.

Has now joined Green on loan, notching once in three games.

For Town, Jonathan Smith moved to Forest Green from Morecambe in July 2007, playing over 100 times, scoring 15 league goals before moving to York in August 2010.

Midfielder Alex Lawless made over 100 appearances for Rovers too, between August 2006 and July 2009, before he joined York too.

Although not given a squad number, Scott Rendell moved to FGR in August 2005 and scored twice in 16 league games, before joining Crawley in August 2006.

We’ve got form: Luton have a fine overall record at the New Lawn, winning three of their four visits during the last four years.

Two of them have been 1-0 thanks to goals by Tom Craddock and then Lloyd Owusu, before an embarrassing 3-0 defeat in the 2011-12 campaign that all but ended the reign of boss Gary Brabin.

Last time out: Hatters picked up an excellent 2-1 victory at Forest Green last season courtesy of a last minute penalty from Scott Rendell.

The hosts had taken the lead just after the break when one-time Town target Yan Klukowski fired home after an error from Dean Brill.

Stuart Fleetwood levelled with a stunning strike on 74 minutes though before Green defender Paul Green was dismissed for a handball in the area and Rendell confidently slotted home the penalty.

Hatters: Dean Brill, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, Janos Kovacs, Jake Howells, Simon Ainge, Ronnie Henry, Jon Shaw, Arnaud Mendy, Scott Rendell, Stuart Fleetwood (JJ O’Donnell 89), Andre Gray.

Subs not used: Connor Essam, Matt Robinson, Dan Walker, Jake Robinson.

Attendance: 2,112.

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