Tonight City face Forest Green in a play-off ‘six pointer’ at the Innocent New Lawn.
Ahead of Tuesday’s 7pm kick off, Jed Penberthy looks at a selection of Green Devils who will make the Grecians task tougher.
Aaron Collins
It was A. Collins and A. Collins who both found themselves on the scoresheet when both sides met on Boxing Day, and the Forest Green version has kept adding strikes since. (Archie trumped him with that piledriver though).
Seven goals and six assists this season for the 23-year-old striker has chipped in nicely behind Jamille Matt. Matt however is out for the season with a hand injury and the impetus lies on Aaron Collins’ shoulders to get Rovers over the line.
The Welshman began at Newport, prior to signing for Wolves and Morecambe, via a few loans. In 2019, Collins signed for The Green Devils and has been a mainstay in the side since.
Other notable squad members in the FGR squad include three former City players: Kane Wilson; Jayden Richardson; and Jordan Moore-Taylor.
Jake Young
With the best minute to goal ratio in the squad, Jake Young must be kept in the periphery of the City defence. Like his strike partner above, Young also has seven goals this term but in fifteen less games.
At just 19, the former Blades academy graduate is quickly making his mark in the senior game. He moved to Sheffield United from Guisley in 2019 before being snapped up by the Club on the Hill in July last year. After netting his first goal for the club in an EFL Trophy fixture, Young has been drafted into the League XI and scarcely looks out of place despite his tender age.
He’ll look to play off Collins as much as possible and he’s scored the decisive goal on three occasions this season, so his composure is telling.
Nicky Cadden
The Strikers need someone to feed off and Nicky Cadden is providing the supplements. All the sevens today as Cadden boasts the most assists in the squad. The 24-year-old Scotsman is the twin brother of current international Chris.
Both Caddens came through the system at Motherwell before Nicky made a name for himself at Airdrieonians. Forty apps for the Diamonds earned a move to the Scottish Premier League with Livingstone. In July Nicky moved south of the border and kept on travelling to Gloucestershire where he sits on the wing for Rovers.
His position and stats-from suggest Forest Green’s playing style. The width has been their biggest asset this season and when Nicky Cadden is on the money, it has been easy pickings for his two strikers.