Bower relishing Forest Green test

Tuesday’s game is sponsored by Blacks Solicitors

Following Guiseley’s 1-1 draw at Altrincham at the weekend, attention quickly turns to Tuesday night’s visit of title hopefuls Forest Green Rovers to Nethermoor.

Rob Atkinson’s second-half header ensured the Lions a deserved point that maintains their solid recent Vanarama National League form although second-placed Forest Green will likely offer a much sterner test.

This week’s visitors won the reverse fixture 3-0 back in October and were 2-1 victors against Eastleigh at the weekend but Bower is relishing the challenge on offer.

“A couple of performances aside, on the whole we’ve been playing well since the turn of the year, we’ve put in some good performances and got some good results,” he said.

“We were the better side [against Altrincham] and we have to take that confidence and bits of quality that we showed into the game and go and take these teams on.

“I look forward to the challenge and ultimately it’s about getting to that 50-point mark as soon as we can and Tuesday is the next opportunity to get closer to it.”

Forest Green remain hot on the heels of table-toppers Cheltenham Town and will be keen to keep the pressure on at the top.

For the Lions, it’s about maintaining that gap to the relegation zone and Bower says his side will need to be on top of their game despite a quick turnaround.

“They just keep grinding out result and getting late winners, they keep going right until the end and that’s testament to a good side, that they can keep grinding those results no matter how well they play,” he added.

“Obviously it’ll be very tough, I think everyone knows the quality that they’ve got throughout their squad, not just in their XI but off the bench as well.

“We’ve got to be right at it and obviously we don’t have the opportunity to prepare much between now and then. We won’t see the lads until Tuesday, but it’s a challenge, it’s the league that we’re in and we look forward to it.”

By Richard Potter

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