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‘Proud’ Robbie Savage gets emotional after Forest Green go top of the National League

A ‘proud’ Robbie Savage gets emotional after seeing his Forest Green Rovers side go top of the National League after beating Halifax.

Savage praised his team’s magnificent performance in a 2-1 away win against the Shaymen on Saturday, highlighting squad depth after making four changes and dealing with injuries to several players.

He commended goalkeeper Luke McNicholas for a crucial second-half save that secured the points, and noted a tactical shift to a back five to counter Halifax’s midfield dominance. Yahaya Bamba impressed with his first goal and driving runs.

Savage emphasised character, mentality, and adaptability in a gritty win, with three victories from four games so far.

He credited staff, fans, and substitutes, while planning possible recruitment ahead of Monday’s home game against Eastleigh.

FGR sit top, with 10 points from 4 games, 3 wins, 1 draw, 0 defeat, 10 goals for, and 3 conceded. Hartlepool (2nd) and Southend (3rd) are also on the same points.

Halifax: Johnson; Tarima (Pugh 82), Hobson (Turner-Cooke 33), Adetoro, Latty-Fairweather; Johnson, Hugill; Bray (Capello 82), Hmami, Cooke; Kawa. Subs not used: Ford, Crowe, Sutcliffe, Jenkins.

Forest Green: McNicholas; McAllister (Inniss 71), Janu, Moore-Taylor, Kengni; Whitwell (Moore 56), Mendy; Knowles, Haughton (Clarke 56), Bamba (Cardwell 71); Doidge (Mitchell 40). Subs not used: Pagel, Buyabu. Pemberton.

Referee: Gareth Rhodes.

Attendance: 1,380 (106 away).

Savage said when speaking to the club’s media: The reaction to today’s result is they were magnificent. I’ve got belief in every single person that was with us today. Made four changes. That’s the strength and depth we have. It wasn’t a weakened side. It was the same level. That’s how much I’ve trust in this group.

“Jili Buyabu going to have a scan now. That’s a blow, because he’s been terrific. But Cardwell’s come onto the onto the bench and that’s the beauty of having you know when you can bring a player like Harry Cardwell onto the bench because he’s been out for 10 weeks you know that just goes goes to show how strong we are.

“So again delighted for the squad and you know, when I say to them all listen you’re all going to be part of it squads squads you know we’ll win things. I’m not saying we’re going to win the league but we got listen we’re playing exceptionally well. We’ve shown a different side to win today.

“We had to ride a bit of a storm at times and I had a little go at the goalie at half time. Yeah. But after the game I’ve said, “You’re the reason with that save in the second half. You got us a three points.” Was a brilliant save, you know, because he could have gone a bit low, but he didn’t. He rose to the challenge and Luke um McNicholas there with that save got us a three points. It was a brilliant save.

“And that’s what you need. You need strong characters. You need mentality, you know, and the manager might halftime not be as happy as I’ve been, but they responded. and what I believe me and my staff can do, we can get the best out of players, you know, collective, individually.

“And you know, what managers did with me, they made me feel like I can do everything for them. And that’s why hopefully that group have got. So I’m delighted for them. I’m delighted for all the ones that got on the pitch. The subs were magnificent. You know a couple injuries which hurts us but again you know I’ll be speaking later on the coach on the way home when the music’s on.

“You know the lads are enjoying themselves a long journey back. So again listen it’s going to be a nice bus journey home but again it’ll be on the phone relentless. You can see I talk a lot when when we win.”

Halifax boss Adam Lakeland said to the Courier: “I felt, certainly between their two goals, we were the better team, by a margin as well.

“Some of our play at times was superb, our organisation without the ball was good.

“Good pressing, good energy, I thought we looked a threat all game, created the best chance in the game, outside the goals, with Thierry when he’s gone through.

“It was a brilliant bit of play and he’s got to score. You could say the keeper made a good save but I think he’s got to score.

“And then to go and make a mistake and concede that goal is incredibly frustrating, because our performance against one of the most fancied teams in the league, with one of the biggest budgets in the league – I feel we were the better team.

“They’re both poor goals. The first one, it’s gone out to their right, they’ve reacted a bit quicker than we have, they’ve shot, Sam’s made a save, parried it, not been able to parry it wide enough, but we’ve still got bodies around that.

“Their lad’s on the move and our lads aren’t and he’s tapped it in. Frustrating.

“But the second one is even more so, it was at a stage in the game where we were the better team and we just turn the ball over cheaply, the ball’s gone in the box and he’s got across and scored.

“It shows where we are in comparison to clubs like that, they’re able to bring Kairo Mitchell off the bench and the third choice striker’s Harry Cardwell, who wasn’t even meant to be on the bench.

“He only went onto the bench because they lost a player. That’s what we’re up against.

“We are a bit light in terms of options beyond what is currently our best 11 and we’ve got to keep working on that.

“I’m massively encouraged by that and I’d like to think everybody else associated with Halifax will go home encouraged by that performance, because I thought we played some brilliant football at times.

“We played with a real energy and a tempo, a brand that everybody wants to see.

“We were positive, we were aggressive. It would have been easy for us to sit in against one of the best teams in the league, but we didn’t.

“We actually were the better team for large parts of it, but I am frustrated at the same time and I’ve had to let the players know that.

“That’s probably why they’ll be right at the sharp end of the division, because they’ve stayed in the game when they’ve been second best and gone away with three points.

“We’ve been the better team and we’ve got nothing.

“That’s where we’ve got to wisen up and smarten up a bit, but generally, outside of that frustration, I’m massively encouraged by what I’ve seen again from my team.”

Twitter users reacted as a ‘proud’ Robbie Savage gets emotional after Forest Green go top of the National League…

@FchtMarkd: Good interview tbf, knows they were in a game and maybe didn’t deserve all 3 points, but they got them. I dont mind Savage, he’s alot more honest than Cotterill

@Pbgrange: FGR have been a joy to watch so far this season. Long way to go, and they’ll be some bumps, but great to see.

@ArturoBinewskii: First trip down yesterday, what a shift in energy from last season, unreal ๐Ÿ’š

@FGR_sean37: Cheers boss. Worth the trip ๐Ÿ’š enjoy the rest of your weekend

@Jakey_Boyz: Thatโ€™s a performance of champions. Wow what a snatch and grab

@Jord_Newman1: Doesnโ€™t always have to be free flowing, what a win that is! #ChampionsElect

@JonHansford5: Take that every day – great win

@flips1884: Keeping an eye on the career of Robbie Savage, a handful of promotions with Maccelsfield, if he does a good job at FGR, I’d give him a crack at the reins after Eustace #dcfcfans

@jonnyescott: Top of the league ๐Ÿ‘

@steveclempson: Early days but doing a cracking job and long May it last ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿ‘‹

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