In a potentially significant match for their respective promotion and survival ambitions, Harrogate Town will welcome Chesterfield to Exercise Stadium on Saturday in League Two.
The home team are fifth last in 20th place with 15 points from 15 games and lost 2-1 against Morecambe on November 9, while the visitors are ninth in the table with 22 points after 15 matchweeks and are two points and two places from the promotion playoff spots.
Match preview
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The hosts will be thoroughly disappointed by their defeat against Morecambe considering they had better opportunities than their opponents, but also because they had cancelled out Morecambe's first-half goal in the 86th minute, only to lose to Harvey Macadam's 96th-minute winner.
Manager Simon Weaver expressed his bitterness at the loss in the aftermath of his side's defeat, telling reporters: "I can't just say that we were just poor and we didn't deserve anything, we did deserve something from the game, but it's football, isn't it."
Weaver's team have scored just 12 goals and conceded on 21 occasions, and these figures make them League Two's second-worst offensive and joint eighth-worst defensive club.
The Sulphurites are four points clear of the two relegation spots at the bottom of the division and have been defeated in their three most recent matches in the fourth tier.
Harrogate have triumphed in three and lost three of their last six games at home in League Two, though they have lost three of their last four at Exercise Stadium.
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The visitors lost 3-0 against Accrington Stanley in their most recent league outing last Saturday, and they can have few complaints about the scoreline given they faced four big chances and created just one of their own.
In fairness to Chesterfield, the loss is their only defeat in their last 11 matches, with the club winning four of their most recent six.
Boss Paul Cook accepted that his team were second best on the day, commenting: "At the minute we are a club with multiple players, good players heavy, but we are not yet a good team".
Cook should be delighted with his players in regard to their performances in the final third considering they are the league's highest scorers having netted 28 times, though their defensive record of 18 goals conceded means they are only the joint 14th best defensive team.
Chesterfield's away form in the past weeks is strong, with the visitors emerging victorious in three of their last four games on the road and being held to a stalemate in the other.
Team News
![Chey Dunkley of Chesterfield during the Chesterfield FC v Sheffield United FC pre-season friendly match at the SMH Group Stadium, Chesterfield, England, United Kingdom on 20 July 2024 [on August 7, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/chey-dunkley.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Chey Dunkley of Chesterfield during the Chesterfield FC v Sheffield United FC pre-season friendly match at the SMH Group Stadium, Chesterfield, England, United Kingdom on 20 July 2024 [on August 7, 2024]")
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James Belshaw is likely to start in goal for the home team, and he may be protected by a back four of Zico Asare, Anthony O'Connor, Jasper Moon and Matthew Foulds.
Harrogate could line up in the same 4-4-2 system that they deployed against Morecambe, and that could mean Dean Cornelius and Stephen Dooley partner each other in a double pivot, while Josh March and Jack Muldoon are expected to start up front.
Meanwhile, Will Grigg is certain to lead the line for Chesterfield, and he could be flanked by wingers James Berry and Dilan Markanday.
Ollie Banks and Darren Oldaker were both selected together in deeper midfield roles against Accrington, and they may retain their place in the lineup on Saturday.
In defence, centre-backs Jamie Grimes and Tom Naylor may be tasked with shielding goalkeeper Ryan Boot.
Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Belshaw; Asare, O'Connor, Moon, Foulds; Taylor, Cornelius, Dooley, Duke-McKenna; March, Muldoon
Chesterfield possible starting lineup:
Boot; Tanton, Grimes, Naylor, Gordon; Banks, Oldaker; Markanday, Dobra, Berry; Grigg
We say: Harrogate Town 1-4 Chesterfield
It is difficult to overlook Chesterfield's impressive form in front of goal this season, and it would not be surprising if they scored multiple goals against Harrogate.
Additionally, Harrogate are in poor form, and the visitors should come into the match as favourites.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
