Forest Green were held to a 1-1 draw by Braintree Town at The New Lawn on Saturday. Here Ashley Loveridge looks at six things we learned from that game:...

EMBRACE PRESSURE AND THRIVE OFF IT

Triple gold Olympic rower Pete Reed watched his hometown team on Saturday and spoke succinctly at half-time about the sporting mindset of a proffesional sportsmen.

Reed stated sportsmen should thrive on pressure and this is something Rovers will need to do if they reach the promised land of the Sky Bet Football League.

SAM RUSSELL IS A MASTER CRAFTSMAN

Goalkeeper Sam Russell was really at it and showed what a top class goalkeeper he is with numerous flying saves.

His crucial glove just after the break was described as world class by team-mate Rob Sinclair.

LIAM NOBLE PLAYED HIS HEART OUT

After losing friend and fellow Toon fan Mark Jack Park, from Newcastle, who died in a car crash on Wednesday, Forest Green captain Liam Noble played his heart out alongside the impressive Rob Sinclair and the tigerish Charlie Cooper.

JUST LIKE WATCHING ARSENAL

Rovers fizzed the ball about with Arsenal-like aplomb at times, with dogged Braintree unspectacular in comparison. Rovers may need to go ugly at times as winter pitches turn into cow fields.

LEAGUE NOT WON IN JANUARY

The National League will not be won in January and boss Mark Cooper will be eyeing automatic promotion, but in-form Lincoln look in the driving seat at the moment.

Rovers will need to got and get something at Sincil Bank at the end of March and hope Tranmere hit the skids as the second-half of the season gains momentum.

MARK COOPER TAKES THE POSITIVES

Mark Cooper pointed to the positives out of an improved second-half and will have been buoyed by the impact off the bench from new loan duo Jake Gosling and Kaiyne Woolery. However, he was unhappy about an offside decision which chalked-off Christian Doidge's late winner.