National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Forest Green Rovers or Northampton Town that keep their silverware dream alive.
There’s little time for restitution or working hard at the training pitch these days, with both teams having played their last game less than four days ago.
Forest Green Rovers form and stats
Forest participated in EFL Trophy the last season, where they reached the 2nd round.Forest Green Rovers have secured 6 points from their first three home games in the League Two. A decent catch, still with room for improvement.
The Forest fans got no joy from their last match, a League Two game also here: A 0-2 defeat against Port Vale. Dan Sweeney, defender, was given a rating of 7.05/10 in that game, top of the team. Sweeney won 5 of 8 duels.
Prior to that, an away loss at Brentford in the Carabao Cup.The hosts are modest favourites in this match, with the bookmakers estimating the chance of a home win at about 50% +- five percent. It's interesting to look at how Forest have performed under similar circumstances, so here are some numbers: When modest favourites like this (we found 15 games) they have won seven times, drawn two and lost six.
There will be little rest for Forest after this match as they are travelling to Exeter City for a League Two game in only four days.
Goals are plentiful in the league this season as Forest has scored 8 goals here in 3 home games. Forest are struggling defensively, conceding on average more than two goals per home game (6 from 3 played).
Northampton Town form and stats
Northampton's mission in EFL Trophy last season failed in the 3rd round.Four points from two away games for Northampton Town, meaning one draw and one victory in the League Two so far.
It's another away game for the visitors, as they travelled to Crawley Town in their previous outing. The League Two match ended in a draw 0-0. Liam Roberts was the team player of the game with the player rating of 7.6. The agile goalkeeper Roberts stopped the opponent with three saves and topped it up with a clean sheet.
Preceding that, the 0-1 home loss versus AFC Wimbledon.Northampton Town are the outsiders in this one, but not by much. Their performance in similar games (being the away team and moderate outsiders) is three wins, two draws and two defeats. From a total of seven matches.
A quick return to home after this game, as Northampton are hosting Scunthorpe United in the League Two only four days away.
It's early days yet, but Northampton Town has scored 1 and conceded 0 goals from their travels in the league so far (2 games).
Head 2 Head
Forest Green Rovers-Northampton Town H2H statistics last four meetings regardless of arena: Forest one win, Northampton Town three wins, zero draws. three of these four matches had three or more goals (over 2,5).Top Goalscorers
  M. Stevens 5 goals | N. Cadden 3 goals | J. Matt 3 goals |
Forest Green Rovers missing players
Northampton Town missing players
| Forest Green Rovers | Northampton Town | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 13 | Played | P | 13 | 25 | ||
| 11 | 5 | Won | W | 2 | 7 | ||
| 4 | 2 | Drew | D | 5 | 6 | ||
| 10 | 6 | Lost | L | 6 | 12 | ||
| 41 | 21 | Scored | S | 10 | 22 | ||
| 36 | 23 | Conceded | C | 18 | 33 | ||
| 88% | 92% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 77% | 88% | ||
| 80% | 85% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 62% | 60% | ||
| 60% | 62% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 54% | 48% | ||
| 32% | 31% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 23% | 20% | ||
| 20% | 23% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 4% | ||
| 52% | 62% | BTTS | BTTS | 54% | 44% | ||
| 28% | 8% | Clean Sheets | C S | 31% | 32% | ||
| 32% | 38% | Failed to Score | F T | 38% | 36% | ||
| 6.4 | 5.7 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 4.2 | 3.7 | ||
| 3.1 | 3.5 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 4.8 | 5.1 | ||
| 1.1 | 1.5 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2.2 | 2 | ||
| 2 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 1 | ||
| 11.5 | 10 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 8.1 | 8.4 | ||
| 3.8 | 3.8 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 2.1 | 2.6 | ||
| 44% | 43% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 36% | 34% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Brighton U21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Forest Green Rovers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Northampton Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Walsall | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Forest Green Rovers | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 12 |
| 2 | Harrogate Town | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| 3 | Bradford City | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 |
| 4 | Swindon Town | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| 5 | Hartlepool United | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| 6 | Leyton Orient | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 7 | Mansfield Town | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 8 | Northampton Town | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 9 | Stevenage | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -1 | 7 |
| 10 | Port Vale | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 11 | Exeter City | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| 12 | Carlisle United | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 13 | Colchester United | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 14 | Scunthorpe United | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 6 |
| 15 | Newport County | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 6 |
| 16 | Salford City | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 17 | Rochdale | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 18 | Barrow | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -1 | 5 |
| 19 | Tranmere Rovers | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 5 |
| 20 | Crawley Town | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -3 | 4 |
| 21 | Walsall | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -4 | 4 |
| 22 | Bristol Rovers | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -5 | 4 |
| 23 | Oldham Athletic | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -3 | 3 |
| 24 | Sutton United | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -2 | 2 |