Too many mistakes, Brilliant Clarke, and vile abuse – Forest Green boss Robbie Savage after Carlisle defeat

Carlisle United 4 Forest Green Rovers 2

“It’s a hard one to take because everyone watching could see how good we were,” Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage said after his side’s 4-2 defeat away to Carlisle United.

Goals from Harvey MacAdam, George Kelly and a Regan Linney double were enough to see off 10-man Rovers despite their resilience, equalising twice in the game before succumbing to defeat in Cumbria.

Savage said: “We were magnificent and I’m so proud of my players, but the game hinged on us making four mistakes leading to four goals.

“They hardly got in the game, they’re at home, and we were playing with 10 men.

“If Carlisle don’t win the league and we get them in the playoffs, if we play like we did tonight, I know we can beat them.

“Based on that performance tonight, we can win the league, will we, that’s the big question, but I want us to play like that every week.”

There was a sour taste in the air after the game as a certain section of Carlisle fans crossed the line with their abuse towards the Rovers manager.

“There are people of varying ages, there will be some in high power positions at work who think it is acceptable to come and hurl vile abuse towards another human being.

“It’s not acceptable, but nothing will be done about it; it happens all the time, it happened the other night at Worthing, it happened again tonight, but nothing is ever done.

“When it crosses the line and the stuff said becomes nasty and what’s said is wrong, what’s done about it?

“I’m expected to stand there and take that abuse because it’s me, it’s not acceptable, it’ll be talked about, and nothing happens, but there’s action needed because it’s vile comments.”

Linney scored a double in the first half, sandwiching an equaliser from Jayden Clarke as he struck hard and low into the bottom right corner after Jili Buyabu did excellently to break and beat his man down the right side following a huge save from Luke McNicholas.

“It was a brilliant finish from Jayden. He was brilliant tonight,” Savage said.

Academy graduate Harvey Bunker followed up on his goal at Worthing in the FA Cup on Monday night by replicating his achievement, poking home early in the second half as he stormed into the box.

“I’ve made changes to the side in Bunks and Jayden, and they’ve both scored, so we’re doing something right.

“As a footballer, sometimes you don’t think your time is ever going to come, but he came on and scored the other night, got his start tonight, and he’s been magnificent.

“He’s a shining example to any footballer who might not be in their manager’s thoughts that if you train well, work hard and do the right things, you’ll get opportunities.”

Laurent Mendy was sent off in the 63rd minute for his second yellow card in 15 minutes, both of which came for tugging the shirt and stopping counter-attacks.

“The red card is obvious, I’ve just watched it back and I would say it’s a red, the referee got it right, the first is a yellow, the second is a yellow,” Savage said.

“I’m not going to have a go at Mendy because he’s been sensational, and because it’s been so easy for him at times, he thinks it’s easy, and he gets caught.

“He needs to eradicate that from his game.

Linney’s second, on the stroke of half-time, came from another error when Isaac Moore miscontrolled the ball and gave it straight to the danger-man for Carlisle.

“I’m not going to have a go at Isaac, he’s going to make mistakes, he’s learning and he’s trying to do the right thing, he’s taken his eye off the ball and they’ve scored.”

Linney then set up the third as he drilled a pass along the edge of the box to an arriving MacAdam, who took it very well with a first-time effort past the outstretched McNicholas glove into the bottom left corner.

Jordan Moore-Taylor came off the bench after the sending off, but gave away a penalty in stoppage time for the fourth goal.

“Jordy brings him to the floor, it’s a foul, it’s a penalty. The referee got the big decisions right.”

Temi Babalola, the forward who signed for Forest Green from Worthing yesterday afternoon, made his debut as he started up front.

“He did fine, made an impact with the size of him, he brought people into play.”

The attendance for the evening was over 8,500 fans, and it made the game feel like a huge occasion.

“I love it, I used to do it in the Premier League and I was the pantomime villain, and I want my players to experience that and I want them to love it,” Savage said.

Carlisle United: Breeze; Davies, Feeney, Hayden, Harper; Gilliead (MacAdam 60), Williams; Grant (Ellis 60), Conn-Clarke (Jones 60), Linney (Armstrong 90); Kelly. Subs not used: Lewis, Ajiboye, Whelan.

Forest Green Rovers: McNicholas; Knowles, Inniss, Mendy, Kengni; Bunker, Moore (Moore-Taylor 66); Clarke (Long 73), Whitwell, Buyabu (Bamba 83); Babalola (Doidge 83). Subs not used: Pagel, Haughton, Balagizi.

Referee: James Oldham.

Attendance: 8,598 (124 away).