“We are cool with however you play it; it won’t make any difference to our preparation for the game” – Forest Green Rovers boss Steve Cotterill ahead of York City

Forest Green Rovers boss Steve Cotterill is attempting to treat this weekend’s top of the table clash against York City as no different to another game.

Rovers come into the game a point behind the Minstermen and have the opportunity to return to the top with a win, but Cotterill believes that it should be the same as any other National League fixture.

“It will always be made bigger because it is one and two in the league, it happens in everything. It happens in the Premier League, they will always big it up when the top two play and probably in every other division as well at the moment. It won’t make any difference to us, we are pretty cool with however you play it, it won't make any difference to our preparation for the game.”

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Cotterill will again miss being on the touchline for the game this weekend in the second of his two-game suspension.

“I might go back to the moon again, it worked alright last week,” Cotterill said on where he would be watching the game. “I don’t quite know at the moment where I will be, but I will be ducking and diving around somewhere.”

Liam Sercombe and Emmanuel Osadebe are progressing closer to a return to fitness ahead of this weekend’s game. On the likelihood of whether they would be involved or not in the fixture, Cotterill said: “Sercs and Manny are getting better, that is all I can say. Whether they are around for this weekend or not, I genuinely at this moment in time wouldn’t be too sure on that.

“We won’t play any games publicly on who might be fit or might not be fit and then turn up on the team sheet on Saturday because there are a few who might do that.”

There is a growing need for the supporters to get behind Rovers on Saturday to try and drive the team on for a vital three points. Cotterill said on the importance of a noisy crowd: “It is not just for Saturday; it is all the time here (at The New Lawn).

"Unless you have ever been a player, it is really difficult when you go to a ground and you know that every time you go to take a throw-in, someone is going to be on you and every time you miskick it, someone is going to be on you. You have just got to back your team no matter what, that is how I see it.

“Obviously, we don’t get the numbers that perhaps York City get, when you look at their attendances this season, they have been first-class. We don’t have those numbers, but they can still make it difficult for opposing teams that come here.”

Rovers’ boss did praise this weekend’s counterparts for their start to the season having only lost one of their opening 17 games.

“I think that they have been managed well, what we shouldn’t overlook is it is a big club. I think that they have spent a fair bit of money over the last couple of years, perhaps without getting what they would have wanted out of their league position, sounds a bit familiar doesn’t it?

“That can happen, but congratulations to their manager (Adam Hinshelwood) and their players for what looks like they are getting it right, but we will be more focussed about ourselves really, it is important what we do at the weekend.”

Forest Green have been blessed with competition in the striking department so far this season, with Joe Quigley starting both of the last FA Cup and National League games.

“I think it is always important for strikers to have competition and be confident,” Cotterill said on the needs for strikers. “All three of them (Joe Quigley, Harry Cardwell and Christian Doidge) are in a good place.

"Obviously, all three of them would want to play, but there is nothing I can do about that. What a nice problem to have, I didn’t have that problem last year, but I say a problem, it is only a problem in terms of the ones you are not playing you feel as though you are letting them down a little bit. I talk to them and I think they understand.”

The two sides last played in the 2016/17 season in which the home game resulted in a 2-1 win for Rovers after goals from Rhys Murphy and Matt Tubbs cancelled out Richard Brodie’s early opener.

The away game in April finished as a 2-2 draw with Omar Bugiel grabbing both for Rovers. Former Forest Green striker Jon Parkin scored both goals for the Minstermen.