Preview: Harrogate Town vs. Salford City - prediction, team news, lineups

Harrogate Town are successful freefall heading into gameweek 24's New Year's Day League Two brushwood with in-form Salford City astatine the EnviroVent Stadium.

Both sides are astatine other ends of the signifier table, with Harrogate bottommost and Salford second, highlighting their respective patterns earlier Wednesday's fixture.

Match preview

© Imago

Simon Weaver's men stopped the rot with a 1-1 gully astatine Fleetwood Town to adjacent retired 2024, avoiding a sixth decision connected the trot.  

Five consecutive losses could person been six had James Belshaw not saved a punishment successful second-half stoppage time, denying Fleetwood's Phoenix Patterson successful the 91st minute.

Despite that draw, Weaver's men person picked up the fewest points successful League Two implicit the past six rounds, scoring 3 times and conceding 12 goals.

Although the Sulphurites cannot descent into the relegation spots connected New Year's Day, the North Yorkshire outfit beryllium 4 points supra second-bottom Carlisle United — having played a crippled much — and 5 wide of bottommost Morecambe.

Winless since November, erstwhile they secured 2 victories connected the trot, and without a cleanable expanse since the 2nd week of October, Harrogate look an uphill task against 1 of the signifier teams successful the 4th tier.

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Only league-leading Walsall outdid Karl Robinson's broadside to extremity 2024, claiming six victories connected the trot to Salford's 5 from six (one defeat), though the Ammies matched the table-topping broadside for goals (11) and conceded less (one).

Robinson's men person kept cleanable sheets passim their winning run, beating Notts County (3-0), Accrington Stanley (2-0), Barrow (3-0) and Morecambe (2-0) to extremity 2024.

Gillingham's Jayden Clarke was the past subordinate to people against the Greater Manchester club, who could registry 5 shutouts connected the trot if they forestall Weaver's squad from scoring.

Having already done likewise successful the reverse fixture connected December 3, erstwhile Ben Woodburn and Cole Stockton scored the goals successful a 2-0 success, Salford volition backmost themselves for a year-opening victory.

With the contention for promotion seeing second-placed Notts County (37 points) and 10th-placed Bradford City separated by 3 points, sixth-placed Salford (36 points) could extremity the circular successful 2nd if results spell their way, oregon extracurricular the play-off positions if they lose.

Harrogate Town League Two form:

Salford City League Two form:

Team News

© Imago

Harrogate came done their last lucifer of 2024 seemingly unscathed, giving Weaver a steadfast squad connected Wednesday.

Josh March returned from suspension to people the equaliser for his 3rd league extremity this term, and the Englishman aims to adhd to his tally connected Wednesday.

Having saved a precocious punishment past clip out, Belshaw could beryllium engaged betwixt the sticks against the in-form visitors.

Although Dan Chesters (knee) remains absent for the in-form visitors, Haji Mnoga volition beryllium assessed aft sustaining an wounded connected Boxing Day; however, Robinson welcomes Tyrese Fornah backmost into the squad aft suspension pursuing the midfielder's sending-off against Barrow.

Stockton's six goals outscore Woodburn, Kylian Kouassi and Kelly N'Mai (three each), making the guardant Salford's starring menace against the struggling hosts.

Harrogate Town imaginable starting lineup:
Belshaw; Moon, O'Connor, Foulds; Duke-McKenna, Cornelius, Sutton, Dooley, J. Daly; M. Daly; March

We say: Harrogate Town 0-2 Salford City

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