Checkatrade Trophy

Forest Green Rovers 0 Swansea City Under-21s 2

A LACK of a clinical edge in the final third cost Forest Green Rovers according to manager Mark Cooper in their 2-0 defeat to Swansea City U21s in the Checkatrade Trophy.

Second-half goals from Kenji Gorre and Adam King were the difference on the night as the hosts failed to cause Swansea goalkeeper Gregor Zabret too many issues.

Toni Gomes came the closest to getting the breakthrough for FGR but despite the defeat Rovers have still qualified for the next round of the competition and will face an away tie after following as runners-up to Swansea in Southern Group E.

“We had loads of possession in the final third but we didn’t produce anything,” said Cooper.

“I said to the players before the game, ‘if you get your opportunity tonight make it difficult for me to leave you out of the team for Saturday’.

“I’m not too sure too many people did.

“We had an awful lot of ball, an awful lot of possession and play around their box but the boys in the forward areas didn’t produce enough.

“We had enough attacking players on the pitch to cause a problem but we didn’t.

“If you don’t score and give the opposition problems in the attacking third, they get the confidence and realise that you’re not going to hurt them and they go forward and score.”

Cooper made six changes to the side that beat Morecambe at the weekend as he looked to reduce the risk of injury to a side that have won three on the bounce in the league.

However, Alex Iacovitti was forced off in the first half holding his hip and will be assessed ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup game with Macclesfield.

“I said before the game it was about striking that balance between trying to win the game and making sure we looked after people for Saturday and games to come,” Cooper added.

“We’ll see how Alex (Iacovitti) is tomorrow. He got a whack on his hip bone and is quite sore.”

Jordan Stevens replaced the defender, with returning Manny Monthe dropping into defence, and the teenager impressed again as he picked up the man of the match award.

“Jordan scored the goal against Cheltenham and then picked up an illness and he is just trying to get his form back and today would have helped him,” said Cooper.