Forest Green lost in heartbreaking fashion against Northampton Town on Saturday.
The Cobblers came from behind in a highly-charged game which threatened to flair up after some touchline handbags.
Here are five things we learned from a frustrating day for Rovers.
Forest Green aren’t invincible after all
It had to come to an end at some point. The unbeaten run is over but for it to end in the 97th minute of a game will feel like a sickening blow. A rare Rovers game that didn’t finish 1-1 but the majority of fans would have probably taken that looking back after what happened.
Reuben Reid is a big player for Rovers
Reuben Reid scored his fifth goal of the season for Forest Green. He beat the offside trap and showed great composure to round the keeper.
He’s also a big physical presence and a focal point and that was sorely missed after he went off. He’s now joint leading scorer with Dayle Grubb and the only worry is where will goals come from if Reid gets injured?
Forest Green need to cut out individual errors
It’s not nice to single anyone out. As Mark Cooper said ‘we win together, we lose together’ but it was Liam Shephard’s error which ultimately lead to the second goal.
Mistakes have led to a lot of the goals this season. If it’s not been an individual error, it’s been a set play. Very rarely has a team carved Forest Green open
Wind made it difficult
Forest Green had the wind against them in the second half. Sixfields is quite an open ground and the conditions were having an effect on the game.
Forest Green have a way of playing and an identity of passing football. Northampton have a new manager with a no-nonsense approach. An argument could be made that the Cobblers style was probably ‘less harder’ for windy conditions.
Paul Digby admitted it was the same for both teams but when Northampton equalised and had their tales up, the conditions all of a sudden felt even more difficult for Cooper’s side.
Northampton should climb the league
Northampton are well truly riding that crest of a wave teams often get when they appoint a new manager. Keith Curle got them organised and well drilled.
They started slowly but their quality shone through. Kevin Van Veen made a big difference coming off the bench having robbed the ball off Shephard to set up the winner.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here