Robbie Savage makes four substitutions in FIRST MINUTE of Forest Green Rovers game as ex-Premier League star exploits obscure loophole

Savage, who enjoyed spells in the Premier League as a player with clubs like Blackburn and Derby, lined up his Forest Green side against Wolves' academy team and left fans scratching their heads as he immediately replaced Tom Knowles, Kyle McAllister, Neil Kengni and Abraham Kanu with Akai Bonnick, Will Merrett, Yahya Bamba and James Balagizi.

National League Cup rules state that clubs must name at least four players who started the previous league game in their line-up. The rule has been designed to try and protect the integrity of the competition and prevent teams from making wholesale changes between league and cup games. Savage took advantage by making seven changes to the XI that drew with Scunthorpe last time out and then replaced another four players straight after kick-off, effectively changing his entire team for the fixture.

Savage was a happy man after the game and says the fixture is a great learning experience for his team's young players. He told the club's media after the game: "What a night for the youngsters again. Six points in the competition, learning experience for them. What a learning experience for them to be in the first-team dressing room, seeing how first-team players conduct themselves. It was a very good night and a good performance all around."

Savage has used a similar tactic before, making two changes in the opening minutes against West Brom's Under-21s in August, and may do so again. Forest Green Rovers will play their next National League Cup fixture in October against Leicester City's Under-21s.