We won't get carried away says Hockaday
FOREST Green could top the Blue Square Bet Premier table for the first time in four years after tonight's round of fixtures.
Unbeaten after six matches and on a run of three straight wins, Rovers host Ebbsfleet United (7.45pm) with a chance of usurping Newport County at the summit.
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Only another victory will do – coupled with the Exiles failing to win at Dartford – but manager Dave Hockaday admits it is refreshing to be among the early pretenders for the sole automatic promotion spot.
He said: "We've made a great start, and with that will come a different sort of pressure.
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"The pressure here has traditionally been at the other end of the table, so we have to learn to deal with that and it's not as easy as people might think.
"There are no gimmes in this league, especially if we play like we did for long stretches on Saturday.
"So we'll look to put on a better show against Ebbsfleet, but at the end of the say it is a results-driven business and we want to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
"We're second after six games – if we're second after 36 games I'll be starting to get a bit excited.
"But it's a good start and I'd rather be second top than second bottom."
The Nailsworth club have not lorded it over the rest of the division since September 2, 2008, when Jim Harvey's side upset the odds with four straight wins.
The current vintage were slightly flattered by the margin of Saturday's 3-1 victory over Hyde at the New Lawn, substitute Ben Wright adding the third in the 95th minute.
But Hockaday is excited about the potential for improvement within his squad, with several key personnel still absent though injury.
"I said to them afterwards: Well done for sticking at it and winning the game," he said.
"We didn't play as well as we can do, in that we had the game won and almost gave it away, but we kept on going and scored another late goal.
"Towards the end we looked the stronger team, so I had to be happy with that and we march on."
Reece Styche is a slight doubt for this evening's clash after injuring his hip against Hyde, but fellow forward Omar Koroma is back in contention after serving a one-match ban.
Defensive trio Jared Hodgkiss, Paul Green and Chris Stokes are all nearing returns from the treatment room but will not be rushed back.
Liam Daish's Ebbsfleet have collected five points from their six matches so far, the latest coming with a 1-1 draw at Lincoln City on Saturday.
Comments
by Chrisgump2011
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 10:28AM
“FGR's young team is getting better and better. 5 goals after 90th minute and another after 80th shows that they keep going to the end even when not playing well. High time the Gloucestershire sporting public recognised the achievement of this village team and turned up in larger numbers. The strength in depth of the squad is far better than 4 years ago - that team went on a nose dive after hitting the summit and flirted with relegation. Also, the current team can defend - something Jim was unable to coach”