Forest Green bounced back from their recent home defeats with a deserved victory at Carlisle United. 

Here are five things we learned from a pulsating game. 

Cooper deserves credit

After successive defeats to Morecambe and Oxford United, Mark Cooper needed to do something to turn the tide back in Rovers favour he got it spot on. 

Reuben Reid has had a frustrating time since returning from injury and after a decent cameo on Tuesday, the Rovers boss selected Morris who had a point to prove and he got his rewards. 

Elsewhere, Cooper reverted to a back three which, especially away from home, has worked well for Rovers and they looked well balance. 

The Forest Green boss also recognised Winchester was a miss in midfield and he was influential going forward and got his goal. 


Morris gave Rovers something different up front

Ben Morris came in for his first league start and it took him just 13 minutes to score his first professional goal. 

The Ipswich Town loanee has had to be patient but he was excellent all game. He made runs in behind and showed the instincts of a goalscorer as he latched onto a deflected shot for his goal but did that all game. He was also involved in the second. 
 

Back three suits Rovers

Cooper has used a back three on a number of occasions this season and it was heavily feature during the unbeaten run at the start of the season. 

It's a good system for a team who like to play out from the back and the team looked really well balanced. 


Players have character and mentality for promotion push

Rovers haven't been used to losing and it's the first time they've been questioned all season after back to back defeats and a run of five without a win before the trip to Brunton Park. 

The players reacted superbly. It was an important game because a defeat could have saw them drop further behind the play-off positions but they battled brilliantly and played without fear all game. 

They were faced with a nervy final 15 minutes but the players put their bodies on the line and really dug in to see the game through. 

FGR much more potent away from home

Away from home, Forest Green have won five, drawn three and lost just two in the league.  That's 18 points compared to 12 at the New Lawn. They've also scored 19 goals on the road whereas they've only netted nine at the New Lawn. 

Teams have sat back and defended at the New Lawn but when the onus is on the opposition when Forest Green are away, they seem to provide that little bit of space and Rovers have been so much more ruthless on the road. 60% of their points have come on their travels.