Forest Green Rovers v. Leigh RMI preview

By Matt Lawton
February 4 2005

Former Chester and Oxford assistant boss Steve Bleasdale begins his reign in the RMI hot seat on Saturday as his side travel to Gloucestershire to face fellow strugglers Forest Green Rovers.

Bleasdale will be hoping for a better start to his RMI career than predecessor Geoff Lutley, who hadn't even met his new charges prior to his first game in charge, which unsurprisingly ended in a 5-1 defeat at Exeter.

Exciting winger Gary Williams should be back in the side after he missed last weekend's 3-0 home defeat to York, with Chris Simm likely to drop to the bench to accomadate for him, while recent signing Ashley Scothern faces a late fitness test after picking up an injury in the 1-0 defeat to Northwich in the Conference Cup.

Former Notts County striker Kevin Rapley is set to make his debut for Rovers, who are the only side to lose to RMI in the Conference this season in a 2-0 defeat at Hilton Park in September, with Forest Green manager Alan Lewer trying to bring winger Ryan Williams to the club on loan from Bristol Rovers in time for the vital encounter.