THE OPPOSITION
After losing in the Sky Bet League Two Play-Offs last term, Forest Green Rovers have started this season in rude health, boasting the EFL's only remaining perfect record.
Rob Edwards' side have reeled off four straight league wins and knocked out Bristol City on penalties in Round One of this competition.
The free-scoring Rovers have found the net 15 times so far this campaign, including putting six past Crawley on Saturday.
Matt Stevens (centre above) is the EFL's top scorer with five goals already while Nicky Cadden and Jamille Matt are on three each.
THE GAMEPLAN
Writing for Hot Off The Press Gloucestershire Live's Laurie Martin:
"Formation-wise, Edwards has settled on a pretty fun and fluid 3-4-1-2. He wants his side press high and to pin the opposition back into their half of the pitch, but they are also very slick when in possession. Ebou Adams (main image) plays in the No 10 role and he’s probably the most effective player in the side, with his direct running and ability to carry the ball up the pitch and win fouls.
The dynamic Adams, along with flying wing-backs Kane Wilson and Nicky Cadden, make Forest Green a real counter-attacking threat. I would expect a few changes from the league game against Crawley; Sadou Diallo, Jack Aitchison and Jake Young will all be pushing for starts"
TEAM NEWS
Thomas Frank has confirmed that former Forest Green star Ethan Pinnock will start and captain the side tonight. Mathias Jensen and Shandon Baptiste are both nearing a return from injury.
For Forest Green, Josh March and Jordan Moore-Taylor both took part in the warm-up on Saturday afternoon as they continue their recoveries. Highly-rated young defender Udoka Godwin-Malife is out with a collarbone injury.
THE MANAGER
Rob Edwards endured a stop-start playing career with injuries limiting him to just 235 appearances over an 11-year spell. He won promotion to the Premier League twice, once through the Play-Offs with Blackpool in 2009 and then a year later as Norwich City finished Championship runners-up, and was also capped 15 times by Wales between 2003 and 2006.
Nearly half of those professional games came in a four-year spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers with whom he began his coaching career, aged 30. A successful first season with the Under-18s saw him promoted to the first-team staff under, first, Kenny Jackett and then Walter Zenga. When the latter was sacked in October 2016, Edwards had a two-game spell as interim manager before returning to a coaching role at Molineux.
After a year managing hometown club AFC Telford, Edwards returned to Wolves as Under-23 Head Coach in July 2018, winning promotion to Premier League 2 Division 1 during his first season. An England Under-20 coaching job followed before he was appointed England Under-16 Head Coach in September 2020, a role he held until joining Forest Green this May.
THE OPPOSITION VIEW
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Will Finnie
Assistant Referees: Dean Treleaven and Christopher Wade
Fourth Official: Trevor Kettle
Forest Green Rovers 21/22
38 fouls - 16th in Sky Bet League Two
7 yellow cards - 6th in Sky Bet League Two
0 red cards - Joint-Fewest in Sky Bet League Two
MATCHDAY INFO
All tickets for tonight's game are PRINT AT HOME - there will be no tickets loaded onto any Brentford Cards.
Tickets for tonight are on General Sale with supporters able to buy up to six tickets per person.
Join us from just £10 adults and £5 for Under-18s
Buy your tickets here
MATCH COVERAGE
Due to broadcast regulations, tonight's game is not available to watch in the UK or internationally.
The only way to follow the action away from the Brentford Community Stadium is with an iFollow audio match pass.
Buy online