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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


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