MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 17:51:55| >> :600:778120:778120:
[monks data]
Harrogate Town
League Two | Gameweek 2
Aug 12, 2023 at 3pm UK
CNG Stadium
Forest Green Rovers

Harrogate
0 - 1
Forest Green


Cornelius (55')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Stevens (46')
Jones (34'), Maddox (62'), Bernard (82')

Preview: Harrogate Town vs. Forest Green Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's League Two clash between Harrogate Town and Forest Green Rovers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Harrogate Town will seek to continue their winning start to the new League Two season when they host Forest Green Rovers at Wetherby Road.

The hosts emerged victorious against Doncaster Rovers last weekend, while the visitors' return to the fourth tier got off to a miserable start against Salford City.


Match preview

Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver looks dejected after the match on January 9, 2022© Reuters

This campaign marks Harrogate Town's fourth-straight season in League Two, and after finishing 19th last season, and nine points above the relegation zone, Simon Weaver will be hoping for an improved finish come the end of this campaign.

Jack Muldoon's second-half penalty got Harrogate off to the perfect start as they triumphed in the opening-day Yorkshire derby at Doncaster.

Muldoon confidently fired home in the 66th minute after Joseph Olowu was deemed to have brought down Abraham Odoh in the box, and that goal proved to be the difference between the two sides.

The Sulphurites also extended their unbeaten record against newly-promoted League One outfit Carlisle United in midweek by beating Paul Simpson's side 1-0 in the EFL Cup first-round tie.

Forest Green Rovers' Ben Stevenson celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on January 17, 2023© Reuters

As for the visitors, their return to League Two was marked with a 2-0 defeat against Salford City at The Bolt New Lawn.

A Conor McAleny strike and late substitute Matt Smith's header were enough to secure all three points for Salford, handing the Rovers their first opening-day defeat since 2016.

David Horseman will be hoping he can guide his side back up to the third tier at the first time of asking, but after losing 31 of their 46 league games last season, finishing a distant bottom in League One in the process, Horseman has a major challenge on his hands to restore a winning mentality at the club.

A first-round EFL Cup defeat to Portsmouth has since followed the opening-day loss against Salford, and things do not get any easier for the Green as their struggles on the road are well documented – they only won one game from 23 attempts on their travels last season.

Harrogate Town League Two form:


Harrogate Town form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W

Forest Green Rovers League Two form:


Forest Green Rovers form (all competitions):
  • L
  • L


Team News

Forest Green Rovers' Mathew Stevens celebrates scoring their first goal with teammate on March 21, 2022© Reuters

Simon Weaver made several changes to the team that was victorious at Doncaster when Harrogate faced Carlisle, with only Mark Oxley, Abraham Odoh, Sam Folarin and Matty Foulds named in the starting lineup, so the likes of Jack Muldoon, Anthony O'Connor and Rod McDonald could potentially return to the fold here.

Matty Daly could also make his way into the starting XI supporting Folarin in attack, while Oxley will keep his place between the sticks.

As for Forest Green Rovers, Horseman made several changes to his side for the EFL Cup match against Portsmouth, so he could revert to a similar lineup to the one that lost to Salford on the opening day of the season.

Matty Taylor and Mathew Stevens look set to continue their partnership in attack, while Jordan Moore-Taylor will keep his place at the heart of the Rovers defence.


Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Oxley; Sims, McDonald, O'Connor, Foulds; Gibson, Cornelius, M. Daly; Folarin, Odoh, Muldoon

Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:
Daniels; Bernard, Inniss, Moore-Taylor, Robson; McAllister, Jones, McCann, Jenks; Stevens, Taylor


SM words green background

We say: Harrogate Town 1-1 Forest Green Rovers

Forest Green have the advantage in terms of the head-to-head record against Harrogate, winning three of their four meetings.

However, the sides have started the season in contrasting form, so we think there will be very little to split the sides come Saturday.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data


ID:520758:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect9466:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Wrexham defender Aaron Hayden celebrates scoring against Manchester United on July 25, 2023
Read Next:
Saturday's League Two predictions including Wrexham vs. MK Dons
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Port Vale1610332416833
2Walsall1593328151330
3Doncaster RoversDoncaster178542218429
4Notts County177732315828
5Crewe AlexandraCrewe158431913628
6MK Dons168352719827
7Chesterfield1767430201025
8Grimsby Town178181926-725
9AFC Wimbledon157262314923
10Bradford CityBradford166552117423
11Gillingham167271714323
12BarrowBarrow176471716122
13Fleetwood TownFleetwood145632015521
14Cheltenham TownCheltenham176382225-321
15Salford City165651518-321
16Newport CountyNewport176381926-721
17Harrogate TownHarrogate176381623-721
18Accrington StanleyAccrington164662226-418
19Colchester UnitedColchester163851922-317
20Tranmere RoversTranmere154561018-817
21Bromley153751719-216
22Swindon TownSwindon172782028-813
23Morecambe1734101729-1213
24Carlisle UnitedCarlisle1734101429-1513


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!