Forest Green Rovers

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The New Lawn

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Forest Green v Gateshead

Forest Green Rovers will look to make home-ground advantage count when they entertain unbeaten Gateshead at The New Lawn.

Rovers picked up their first points of the season on Tuesday night when they thrashed Wrexham 3-0.

Manager Dave Hockaday is hoping for a similar performance on Saturday afternoon as his side looks to keep the momentum going.

Hockaday told This Is Gloucestershire: "We don't want to lose all the momentum we've got and it would nice to have another performance like Tuesday.

"It was a big deal to show bravery on the ball and make sure we competed, and if we perform like that again - given a fair wind - we'll get another three points."

Jared Hodgkiss will miss the clash for the home side due to a knee injury, while Mike Fowler is expected to feature again.

Scott Bartlett and Ross Dyer are also likely to miss the fixture due to groin and knee injuries respectively.

Unbeaten Gateshead will travel without the services of new signing Jon Shaw. The forward tore a calf muscle during pre-season training and will now see a specialist as he starts his recovery.

Shaw is obviously upset by the injury and is relishing his chance to shine for the club once he has fully recovered.

The forward told Chronicle Live: "I was desperate to start the season on fire at Gateshead, and to be out for so long with a calf injury is very frustrating.

"The original tear has healed, but as I stepped up my rehab I felt a problem with another part of the calf, and the physio has sent me to see a specialist.

"I am at a loss as to what the problem is and have been a bit down over the last few days."

Defender James Curtis is unlikely to feature as he has only recently returned to the training pitch.