Forest Green v Exeter predictions: Gloucestershire goal glut may be on the cards

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Forest Green Rovers v Exeter City in League One on Saturday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football, 12.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Both teams to score
1pt 4-5 general

Team news

Forest Green
Josh March, Matty Stevens, Bailey Cargill and Udoka Godwin-Malife remain sidelined.

Exeter
Jonathan Grounds has joined Cheick Diabate, Sam Stubbs and Timothee Dieng on the sidelines.

Match preview

Forest Green and Exeter scored plenty of goals on the way to clinching promotion from League Two last term and they could trade a few blows in an entertaining League One contest at the New Lawn.

Priorities have changed for both clubs because their main focus is on finishing outside the relegation zone.

Exeter have made the more promising start, taking 11 points from nine games, and are three points above their third-bottom hosts.

But the Grecians have lost their last two fixtures - 3-2 at Shrewsbury and 2-0 at home to Burton, - and are suffering from a defensive injury crisis with centre-backs Cheick Diabate, Sam Stubbs and Jonathan Grounds ruled out.

Alex Hartridge recovered from a minor injury to start the Burton game but Grounds limped off at half-time, leaving Exeter manager Matt Taylor with only two fit central defenders at his disposal.

Taylor heavily favours playing a back three and may deploy right-back Josh Key in an unfamiliar role, but his back-line may lack physicality and that will be of interest to powerful Forest Green striker Connor Wickham, who has scored in each of his last two appearances.

Forest Green should score but they may struggle to keep the back door shut.

Rovers haven't kept a clean sheet in ten attempts and that run is unlikely to end against a high-quality Exeter attack featuring Sam Nombe and Jevani Brown.

Attack could be the best form of defence for both teams and a goal-feast looks on the cards.

Key stat

Both teams have scored in each of Forest Green's last four matches

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