Forest Green have been on a remarkable journey over the past 20 years, which has seen them rise from the shadows of regional football into the third division of the English pyramid after winning the League Two title last year.
However – like any smaller club which enjoys a successful period – Rovers had vultures circling around key components of their winning formula during the summer, with ex-manager Rob Edwards moving onto an attractive role with Watford and crucial first-team players such as Kane Wilson departing.
Those exits have made the step-up to League One even more challenging than anticipated, with Ian qBurchnall’s men sitting bottom of the league standings,having collected just 20 points from 25 matches.
The Gloucestershire-based club are currently going through their most worrying run of form in this campaign, having lost four straight games over the festive period, a record which will give them little optimism heading into a cup clash with second-tier opposition.
Despite the struggles Rovers are having at this moment, there could not be a better incentive to earn a shock win on Saturday – victory against Birmingham would secure the club’s passage to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history.
Birmingham boss John qEustace has been keen to keep everyone associated with the club grounded this season despite a positive start, reminding supporters and players that they must stick together through inevitable tough periods in the campaign.
The time for Bluenoses to put that advice into action is now – with Blues experiencing their first real wobble of the season, having lost three successive matches in a very limp and uninspiring manner.
Second-half goals from Matt Crooks and Chubaq Akpom condemned Eustace’s men to a 3-1 defeat against Michaelq Carrick’s Middlesbrough last time out, with the hosts at St Andrew’s looking fatigued despite a number of changes that were made to the starting XI.
Blues’ small squad is being tested to the limit with the wave of recent injuries to first-team personnel, with many players operating out of their normal positions as Eustace stays faithful to a 5-3-2 formation.
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For the reasons mentioned above, a pause on league action and the arrival of the FA Cup may have come at the perfect time for Birmingham – although their recent record in the competition is not too impressive, with Blues being eliminated at the third-round stage in five of the last seven seasons.
Forest Green suffered a massive blow this week with striker Connor Wickham departing after the expiration of his short-term contract, meaning the likes of Josh March and Jamille Matt will need to step up with the goals to keep the club in League One.
Defender Jordan Moore-Taylor remains sidelined for the hosts on Saturday, meaning new arrival Brandon Cooper could be handed his debut at The New Lawn in this FA Cup clash.
