FOREST Green’s faltering promotion push has reached a crossroads as they visit Valley Parade for only the second time.

Rovers arrive in West Yorkshire in fifth spot – the first time they have been out of League Two’s top three since January 23.

They have also failed to score in the last five hours of league football and talisman Jamille Matt will not kick another ball this season after an horrific hand injury against Bolton last week.

These are testing times for long-serving boss Mark Cooper and his squad after a season that has promised so much for the Gloucestershire club.

Before the current barren run, Forest Green had only failed to hit the net four times.

Three successive blanks now represent their worst spell since December 2019 and Matt’s absence is a hammer blow.

The physical forward lasted just 90 seconds of the televised loss to Bolton before a collision with MJ Williams left him in agony.

Immediate surgery on his hand was carried out that night but the former Plymouth and Newport man is out of Cooper’s plans.

That leaves Rovers massively lacking in experience up front without their 16-goal focal point.

Josh Davison, who came on in his place, fluffed their biggest chance and Cooper will be hoping he finds his scoring radar. Young prospect Jake Young is likely to get his opportunity now in an experienced frontline with an average age of only 21.

At least, Cooper can welcome back centre half Jordan Moore-Taylor from a broken arm but injuries continue to bite deep into his resources.

Their flexibility is going to be tested if Rovers, who won 1-0 at City last season, are going to maintain their presence in the congested race for the automatic promotion places.

Cooper has been impressed with the job that City's joint bosses have done.

He said: "Bradford have done remarkably well.

"The run they went on when Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars came in was incredible.

"Naturally, there had to be a down-tick in form, because if they'd carried on that run of performances and results they'd have won the league."

The famously eco-friendly club will be wearing a special blue kit at Valley Parade inspired by Sea Shepherd UK to highlight the fight to protect ocean wildlife and marine habitats around UK shores and worldwide.