FOREST Green Rovers manager Mark Cooper praised the quality of Swindon Town’s County Ground pitch and said it will allow his team to play their natural game when the two sides meet in Wiltshire on Saturday.

Former Town boss Cooper spoke highly of his ex-employers during the Nailsworth club’s pre-match press conference on Thursday, praising Swindon’s facilities and number of fans as well as the club’s star striker Eoin Doyle.

When asked how his team would deal with heading to the League Two title favourites, Cooper said: “You want to try and have a way of playing so you don’t change too many things.

“With some of the pitches, you’ve got to be able to adapt. We’re lucky this weekend that we go to one of the best pitches in the league, as it always is.

“We can go and play our game and we’re looking forward to that.

“We’re going to a big stadium, a really big crowd, a really big atmosphere and a nice pitch, what’s not to like about that?

“That’s what we are in the game for and the boys and staff are looking forward to it.”

Cooper guided his team to a thrilling 2-2 draw when the pair met shortly before Christmas as left-back Joseph Mills poked home a dramatic late equaliser, and the 51-year-old is confident of going one better this time around.

The Wakefield-born manager believes a lot of teams have come away from SN1 with their tails between their legs due to getting game plans completely wrong – something that Cooper does not foresee happening to his team.

He said: “I think a lot of teams, because Swindon have done so well, particularly at home, will go and sit in and try and soak it up and play straight into Swindon’s hands.

“We’re not too good at that and we’ll certainly go and try and play and be on the front foot.”

If Rovers are to come away victorious, they will have to do something the club has not achieved in its last eight games – win.

Conversely, Town have picked up three points in four of their previous five, even without the league’s top scorer netting in 80 per cent of those games.

Cooper said: “(Doyle) shows you the benefit of having that person who you know will go and score you 25 to 30 goals a season, which we had for three years.

“You know you can not play well and still get a result. He has done brilliantly for them.”