Chris Hutchings couldn't have asked for an easier first game in charge to kick start his claim to get the job permanently, but of course, if the Rams manage to lose this one he couldn't have asked for a worse start!

Forest Green Rovers v Derby County
FA Cup
3:00pm 3rd January 2009
The Lawn, Nailsworth

I will skip the latest team news for Forest Green in this preview as most Rams fans probably don't know much about the club at all. Forest Green Rovers is a club from Nailsworth in Gloucestershire in the south west of England. Nailsworth has a population of about 6,600. The match against Derby is sold out with 4,800 tickets sold.

Their home kit colour isn't green as one might think but the much more beautiful black and white. Northern Irish Jim Harvey has been their manager since September 2006. In his playing career he joined Arsenal in 1977 but only got 3 appearances, with his debut being against Derby. Harvey saved Forest Green from relegation in his first season in charge and last year they finished 8th in the Blue Square Premier, level 5 in English football. That is Forest Green's best position in the club's history.

They are not doing so well this season and currently sit in 22nd place, but they have played fewer games than most others above them and another win would bring them up to 17th place. They are currently 35 points behind Nigel Clough's Burton Albion who are topping the league. Forest Green beat Barrow 2-1 at home in front of 747 people in their last match on December 28th.

This is a massive tie for Forest Green as this is the first time they've reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Afer drawing 0-0 against Ashford Town in the FA Cup qualifying round, they beat them 4-0 in the replay. In the first round they beat Team Bath 1-0 before knocking out League Two team Rochdale by beating them 2-0 in the second round.

The match report from the game against Rochdale on Forest Green's official site states: "While the temptation to resort to cliché is never greater than in the FA Cup, Rochdale's thorough humbling at the New Lawn owed nothing to magic or destiny. Quite simply, the team chasing promotion from League Two had no answer to Forest Green's imaginative attacking play and new-found defensive solidity. Coolly-taken goals in each half from Jonathan Smith and Josh Low barely did justice to their complete dominance, but a place in round three for the first time in the club's 119-year history guarantees folklore status for Jim Harvey and his players."

Let's hope we won't find out what they say if they manage to knock out the mighty Rams as well...

Forest Green facts

No. Position Player
1 GK Ryan Robinson
2 DF Alex Lawless
3 DF Paul Stonehouse
4 DF Darren Jones
5 DF John Hardiker
6 DF Jerry Gill
7 MF Adriano Rigoglioso
8 MF Simon Clist
9 FW Andrew Mangan
10 FW Conal Platt
11 MF Jonathan Smith
12 MF Les Afful
14 DF Ben Ashford
15 DF Mark Preece
16 MF Lee Fowler
17 FW Kaid Mohamed
18 MF Curtis McDonald
21 FW Mike Symons
22 DF Kris Thomas
24 DF Lee Ayres
25 GK Terry Burton

Last 5
Ebbsfleet United 0-1 Forest Green
Forest Green 5-1 Hemel Hempstead
Forest Green 0-2 Kettering
Kidderminster 1-1 Forest Green
Forest Green 2-1 Barrow

The Rams
It will be almost impossible to predict who Chris Hutchings choose to start with in his first game in charge at Derby, other than through lack of options. He has made it clear that everyone is in contention for a place in the starting eleven: "It remains to be seen who we pick on Saturday but it is up to the players to show me they are worth a place in the side. If they don't do that on the training ground, then they won't get in – it's as simple as that."

Nacer Barazite's loan has been extended until the end of the season so he might feature against Forest Green. Defender Jason Tomkins has returned to West Ham however, and Paul Connolly & Dean Leacock are still injured, while Jordan Stewart starts his 3-match-ban follow his red card against Ipswich. This leaves Hutchings with very few players left to choose from in defence.

Still injured is also Stephen Pearson and Nathan Ellington had to be substituted early against Ipswich with a hamstring problem. Liam Dickinson has scored steadily for other clubs on loan in the Championship this season and many Rams fans have been saying that loaning him out was a mistake as our strikers haven't scored much. Dickinson has now returned to Derby after the end of his loan spell at Blackpool, but he is suspended for the Forest Green tie after collecting five yellow cards this season.

No matter how many injuries and suspensions the Rams suffer from, the team should still be more than good enough to beat Forest Green so it all comes down to the attitude of the players. Chris Hutchings seems to be aware of this as he said: "We've got to get together and work extremely hard. We've got a big game – and it is a big game – at Forest Green this weekend. People keep talking about Wednesday and Manchester United but Forest Green is the most important at this moment."

What the bookies think
Derby are clear favourites among the bookies as one would think but at 8/13 they don't seem to think this is as clear as it might seem on paper. A Forest Green win gives you odds at 7/2.

Information for travelling fans
Driving: It's 116 miles to Nailsworth in Gloucs, and the RAC recommend taking the A38 to the M6 (toll or otherwise) and then picking up the M42 to the M5. At J13 take the A419 for Nailsworth

The following is from the FGR Trust via Popside.com.

Hospitality in Nailsworth:

1. First choice is the Green Man (bar at club). Obviously close to the ground, good ale, cider, lager etc. Several TV screens.

2. Alternatives known to welcome fans:
(i) The Village, in the town centre, at the bottom of a long hill from the ground but has its own brewery on site and is popular with the locals. No food at present (kitchens closed for refurbishment) but again will update if this changes.
About 20 mins walk to ground from there. No car park, but town car parks near. On A46, just uphill from the church. Map.

(ii) Jovial Forester, half way up the hill down a side road. Friendly cosy little pub, again no food but is the nearest to the ground other than the Green Man. About 10-15 mins walk from there to ground. Car Park. GL6 0NH.
(On this map the ground is on lhs on Nympsfield Rd, roughly where that rather limp phallus droops to the left above the word 'Road')

(iii) For those travelling by train, and landing in Stroud (and assuming not 'herded'): The Crown & Sceptre, Horns Road. Run by FGR fan, has a minibus taxi which might be available to run fans into Nailsworth - check first (01453 765569). GL5 1EG. Hot meals available. Map.

In modern parlance, 'other drinking establishments are available' but these above are known to be fan-friendly.

Also a reminder for anyone wanting to make a weekend or otherwise of it: Visit Nailsworth.com

FGR Supporters Trust

Arild's prediction
Forest Green will probably never get a better chance of beating a "big club" team than they have now. A team with almost no defenders left, a shocked team of players following their manager's resignation and with only one win in the last nine. Still, it really would be a new low if the Rams lose this one. Hopefully the players will pick themselves up to show the new man in charge (albeit possibly not for long) what they're capable of.

It can get really dangerous if Forest Green get off to a good start but I can only expect the Rams to win this one by several goals and hope for the best.

Photo: Action Images

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