Crawley Town will be hoping to lift themselves into the League Two play-off positions with a victory as they travel to the EnviroVent Stadium to face Harrogate Town on Saturday 14 November.
The Red Devils are only two points adrift of the top seven, and come into this game unbeaten in two games, winning their previous two fixtures in the FA Cup and the Papa John's Trophy.
Crawley were on a good run of form, going unbeaten in three league games before they were beaten by Walsall in their last league outing. They will be hoping to avoid two successive defeats for the first time since November 2019.
Saturday’s visitors to North Yorkshire have only registered one win on their travels from their opening six away games, though, they remain unbeaten at home.
Harrogate have had an enjoyable beginning to their maiden Football League campaign, placing midtable, however, they are only four points away from the playoff spots.
The Sulphurites have won four and drawn three from their opening 11 fixtures, and come into this game winless in four after a good start to the season.
Team news
Harrogate, reportedly, have no fresh injury concerns other than Will Smith, who is out for this game.
For Crawley, Sam Matthews remains a doubt following his concussion, whilst Tom McGill and Reece Grego-Cox are unavailable for Saturday’s game.
Predicted lineups
Harrogate Town (4-4-2): Belshaw; Fallowfield, Lawlor, Hall, Burrell; Thomson, Falkingham, Kirby, Miller; Muldoon, Martin.
Crawley Town (4-4-2): Morris; Francomb, Tunnicliffe, Craig, Doherty; Ashford, Powell, Hessenthaler, Hesketh; Nichols, Watters.
Form guide
Harrogate have gone four league games without a win, losing three and drawing the other. Their last league victory came against Ian Holloway’s Grimsby Town, winning 2-1 at Blundell Park thanks to a double from Jack Muldoon.
They then suffered a 2-1 defeat to Colchester United after the victory in Cleethorpes, before a goalless draw with Stevenage followed. Back-to-back losses to Newport County and Tranmere Rovers ensued, losing 2-1 and 1-0 respectively.
The Sulphurites then won their first round FA Cup fixture against Skelmersdale United 4-1 at home before losing to League One Hull City in the Papa John’s Trophy.
After losing 2-1 to Exeter City, the Red Devils went three games unbeaten, drawing with Salford City before beating Tranmere and Cambridge United 4-0 and 2-1 respectively. Crawley did, however, lose their last league fixture, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat to Walsall despite hitting the woodwork several times.
Crawley have been victorious in their last two games, coming back from a two-goal deficit on two occasions in a manic FA Cup tie against Torquay United, which ended 6-5 after extra time, before beating Ipswich Town 2-0 in the Papa John’s Trophy.
They also come into this game having lost 22 of their last 24 league games.
Ones to watch
Harrogate Town – Jack Muldoon
Muldoon’s rise to the Football League has been admirable. After netting 21 goals from the right-wing for Worksop Town in the 2013/14 season, Muldoon signed for Rochdale, though, falling back into Non-League after just a year.
The forward found success at Lincoln City – playing a role in their historic FA Cup run and promotion – and AFC Fylde before signing for Harrogate in 2018, where he achieved another promotion into League Two, scoring 14 goals that term.
Muldoon has netted six goals in nine league games so far this campaign, earning him a ‘Player of the Month’ nomination for October.
Crawley Town – Max Watters
Forward Max Watters poses a big goal threat for the Red Devils, scoring seven goals in all competitions this season, with five strikes coming in just six league games.
Watters has struck a great partnership with Tom Nichols, who also has four goals to his name this campaign, since his transfer from Doncaster Rovers.
Like Muldoon, Watters was also up for October’s ‘Player of the Month’ award.
Last time they met
This will be the first time that these two clubs meet in a competitive fixture.
What the managers have said
Harrogate boss Simon Weaver has stated that he is expecting an exciting game between two attacking sides on Saturday afternoon.
“We have quickly turned our attention towards them after the cup game, so the day off we had yesterday [Wednesday], we spent watching Crawley," he said, speaking to the club website.
“They are a good attacking team, and I was watching and thinking ‘it is going to be an exciting game.
“It won’t be good for the heart; they’ll go for our throats and we will go for theirs.
“They have scored quite a few goals and from watching their game last week, it was quite dramatic; a 6-5 victory against Torquay in the FA Cup, and credit to them for fighting back from a 2-0 margin at the time.
“They are exciting, and they have some good footballers, so it should be a good footballing game to look forward to.”
Crawley boss John Yems believes his side are well-rested ahead of the long trip to North Yorkshire at the weekend.
“It is another tough game and another long trip, but I look forward to it,” said Yems, speaking in his match preview.
“It [the game against Torquay] was better than having 130 minutes on the training ground; everyone is still buzzing, and the boys did well on Tuesday night.
“We are what we are and it is all about the recovery, but we know it is still going to be a very tough game up there and they have done a really good job up there – it’s a good little football club – and we are looking forward to the trip.”
Where to watch
The only way to view this clash live on Saturday 14 November is by purchasing an 'iFollow' match pass on either of the official club websites.