Robbie Savage 'never felt so many highs' and admits 'people didn't take me seriously' after Forest Green Rovers fall to Luton Town in FA Cup classic

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An emotional Robbie Savage was full of praise for his Forest Green Rovers side after they lost 4-3 in injury time to Jack Wilshere's Luton Town in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup. The Green manager and TNT Sports pundit said "I’ve never felt so many highs in football" as in his team's three-goal comeback and added the performance was "the proudest I’ve ever been" in his football career.

Highlights: Luton Town survive scare to edge past Forest Green Rovers

Video credit: TNT Sports

Robbie Savage gushed his Forest Green Rovers side had given him the "proudest" moment of his football career despite losing 4-3 to Luton Town in the Emirates FA Cup first round.

The tie looked beyond Savage’s side when they fell 3-0 behind early in the second half, but they rallied and scored three goals in 18 minutes, with the manager and TNT Sports pundit saying "I’ve never felt so many highs in football," before Gideon Kouda scored an injury-time winner for Jack Wilshere’s Luton.

In a game where the narrative was dominated by the managers, Savage’s substitutions appeared to have made the difference as Tom Knowles, Kyle McAllister and Aidan Dausch all came on to score, with the latter distraught after he missed a late chance to equalise again following Kouda’s goal.

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Yet despite the disappointment at full-time, Savage was full of praise and gratitude for his players and told TNT Sports he hoped this game would show the football world he is serious as a manager.

"A bit emotional in there with my boys, second half would’ve been one of the greatest cup ties I think we’ve seen in a while," Savage said. "We were so good and that’s the proudest I’ve ever been in my footballing journey.

"People didn’t take me seriously because I’m passionate, I’m emotional, in the green room, having a bit of banter, but I care.

"I know what I’m doing, I’ve got knowledge, you know how intense I am, I love the game. I’m like a sponge when I speak to Glenn [Hoddle] and the managers, and I’m proud of my team.

"One thing I can do is galvanise people, I can get the best out of individuals. I’m not a coach, there are lots of better coaches than me, I’ve got John McMahon who’s my coach, I’m a manager. I don’t want to put tactical sessions on, but I want to galvanise people and individuals."

‘He’s missed it’ - Dausch agonisingly scuffs late chance to equalise against Luton

Video credit: TNT Sports

"I’ve had big moments in my life, the birth of my kids was amazing, my footballing career was what a boy dreamed of. That second half, I’ve never felt so many highs in football, what my team did for me.

"There were a few tears in there from the boys because when they give you everything as a manager you think, ‘That’s my team’. But let’s go and win the league now."

"I’m going to make mistakes, I’m learning but my football club, my fans are amazing, we were that, that close to going 4-3 up when we hit the bar.

"You have to have a go at them at half-time but you can’t scream and shout, you’ve got to tell them what they’ve got to do to win the game and they were magnificent."

Wilshere: Win can be much-needed confidence boost

For Wilshere, Kouda’s winner was a mighty relief and takes his record after six games in senior management to four wins, a draw and a defeat.

Undefeated in interim charge at Norwich City last season, he lost to Mansfield Town in his first game in charge of The Hatters, when Nakhi Wells missed a pivotal penalty before scoring twice against Forest Green, but Wilshere’s now won three games on the spin ahead of facing league leaders Stockport.

'Beautiful finish' - Fanne swipes the ball into the top corner to give Luton the lead

Video credit: TNT Sports

"It’s tough, you have to stay calm and you want the players to see you’re calm", Wilshere said. "Sometimes you just get a little touch, you make a mistake, then you don’t fix the mistake and it’s probably a little bit of where we’ve been all season.

"When we’re challenged, it’s tough for us at the moment, nights like this we came through and we won it, so hopefully we can use that.

"When I came in, we identified the confidence was low, we needed a little bit more belief. There are things you can do, you can make training fun, but ultimately winning games is what the players want to see. That’s how you convince them.

"Of course we’re going to look at it but when’s the last time they won three games in a row? We need to use that."

Asked about the style of play he’s looking to instill at Luton, Wilshere added: "We have to be sensible, be a bit pragmatic at times, of course we want to dominate and have the ball but also understand if there’s space behind we’re going to go there."

Watch the Men's and Women's FA Cup live throughout the season on TNT Sports and discovery+

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