League Two rivals Harrogate Town and Stockport County clash in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night, as they contest a place in the second round at Wetherby Road.
While the hosts have both won and lost by three goals in the league so far, their visitors from Lancashire are still to earn their first point of the 2022-23 season.
Match preview
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Conceding two goals just before half time in their second League Two match at the weekend stopped Harrogate's bright start to the season in its tracks, and a 3-0 loss at Crewe Alexandra leaves the Yorkshire club with three points from their opening two games.
Simon Weaver's side had kicked off competitive action with a home win by the same scoreline against Swindon Town, which followed a promising end to their pre-season programme.
Victories against Huddersfield and Gateshead sandwiched a 2-2 draw with Barnsley at the end of last month, but despite Saturday's setback, there still remains a long way to go in the Sulphurites' quest for a top-half finish.
Having placed 17th and 19th since promotion to the fourth tier in 2020, Harrogate are not among the favourites for promotion to League One, but would certainly enjoy a good cup run.
They reached the third round of the FA Cup last term, and made the last eight of the EFL Trophy, but were eliminated in the EFL Cup's first round due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the club, which saw Rochdale receive a bye. Twelve months on, Weaver will hope for better fortunes in the same competition.
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As National League champions, Stockport County started the new season with momentum on their side, but have struggled to convert that currency into points in the opening week of the 2022-23 campaign.
Manager Dave Challinor saw his side slump to a three-goal deficit in their opening fixture, at home to Barrow, before rallying a little to lose 3-2 at the final whistle, but Saturday's defeat at Stevenage was even more galling.
Leading 1-0 heading into the final four minutes of the 90, Stockport imploded, as Barrow's Saxon Earley was felled in the penalty area and Ash Palmer received a second yellow card.
After conceding an equaliser from the subsequent spot-kick, the promoted side then let a draw slip from their grasp five minutes into stoppage time, and they remain without a point in League Two this term.
Nevertheless, as the Hatters have ended an 11-year absence from league football, one of the perks is entry into the EFL Cup once again, and they now hope to get a money-spinning run under way on Tuesday night.
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Team News
After a heavy defeat at the weekend, Harrogate may make a handful of changes in the cup, as manager Simon Weaver seeks to bed in his nine new signings, three of whom were acquired from pre-season opponents Huddersfield Town.
Jaheim Headley, Josh Austerfield and Matty Daly have all made the temporary switch to Wetherby Road from West Yorkshire, and the trio featured in the first XI on Saturday.
While the personnel may alter in midweek, Luke Armstrong is likely to lead the line up front in a familiar 3-4-2-1 formation.
Surpassing even their hosts' transfer market manoeuvres this season, Stockport have secured a dozen summer signings, and several could be given a chance to impress in cup competition.
Czech goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros, currently on loan from Liverpool, is likely to be among those selected, as is former Fleetwood midfielder Callum Camps, who scored as a substitute against Stevenage.
Meanwhile, Ash Palmer is suspended due to his dismissal in the same game, so another new boy, Joe Lewis, should start at the back.
Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Oxley; Richards, Burrell, Mattock; Thomson, Dooley, Austerfield, Headley; Pattison, Daly; Armstrong
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Jaros; Horsfall, Lewis, Johnson; Southam-Hales, Croasdale, Camps, Sarcevic, Rydel; Quigley, Madden
We say: Harrogate Town 1-2 Stockport County
Though things have yet to fall into place for Stockport this season, their investment in signing some top talents at league level means they should prove more than a match for Harrogate in the cup, and the visitors will edge through to the second round if they can click up front.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
