Pressure is on Wilshere in FA Cup tie - Savage

Robbie Savage's Forest Green Rovers meet Jack Wilshere's Luton Town in the FA Cup first round on Friday

Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage says the pressure is on Luton Town and their new boss Jack Wilshere when they meet in the FA Cup first round on Friday night.

The former Arsenal and England midfielder was appointed by the Hatters just over two weeks ago and the visit of the National League side will be his fourth game in the dugout.

Former Wales midfielder Savage is also relatively new in his role, having left non-league Macclesfield to move to Forest Green in the summer.

"I'm delighted for Jack and he'll go on to have a wonderful career, I'm sure of it, but there's more pressure on him than there is me. I'll put the pressure on my team," Savage told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"I'm really fond of Jack, he was a wonderful player. In Covid times, I did a podcast and Jack came on it. I'll see him, I respect him massively. His career was far better than mine and he's a wonderful person."

Forest Green are fifth in the National League under the former Leicester City and Birmingham City player, although they have only won one league match in their past five having previously sat in top spot.

The club reached the third round of the competition three seasons ago, when they were knocked out by Birmingham, but you have to go back to 2008 for the last time they beat a league side in the first round as a non-league club, with a 3-0 replay win over Rotherham United.

Savage stressed the trip to Kenilworth Road was not a "free hit" and they were going there to win.

"I prepare my team in a way and belief that we can win," he added. "I have belief in my players. A lot of my players I believe could play league football, and they're going there with a belief and a desire to go and be the best they can be and show the nation how good they are.

"It's a great platform for them and they're very confident."

Robbie Savage has been relishing his time at Forest Green so far

Savage said the match will be a "fascinating" cup tie not least because both sides will naturally reflect what their managers were like as players.

"Jack was technically unbelievable, the way he glided past people, and I'm sure his team will reflect him eventually because he needs time," he said.

"My team reflects me - personality, you've got be able to get around the pitch and run, be dynamic, give everything, and when you go out there, play every game as if it's going to be your last. That's what I did."

'We won't take them lightly' - Wilshere

While Savage played in the FA Cup first round during the early days of his career at Crewe Alexandra, the tie will be Wilshere's first experience of the competition's early rounds even though he is a two-time winner with Arsenal in 2014 and 2015.

"It's the FA Cup, a competition I know well. I've had some amazing memories in it," Wilshere told BBC Radio Three Counties.

"We know the importance of it. I know the importance of it in this country. We'll be strong and we'll be looking to win."

The 33-year-old has overseen two wins - one in the EFL Trophy - and a defeat in his time in charge of Luton so far, and, while Friday's opponents are two divisions below them, he said they would not take them lightly.

"I think he's [Savage] a great character. He's a great character for the game, his energy, and if you see his team, they play the way he is," added Wilshere.

"It'll be a test for us and we won't be taking them lightly."