Morecambe and Harrogate Town get underway in the second half of the 2023-24 League Two campaign when they square off at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium on New Year's Day.
Having suffered a 2-0 defeat in August's reverse fixture, the home side will head into the game looking to get one over the Sulphurites and begin the new year as they mean to go on.
Match preview
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Morecambe drew the curtains on their schedule for 2023 on Friday when they suffered a 5-0 hammering against Notts County at Meadow Lane.
Former Gateshead striker Macaulay Langstaff turned in a performance of the highest quality as he netted a first-half hat-trick to inspire the Magpies to their 13th league win of the season.
This capped off a tough end to the year for Gerard Brannan's men, who failed to win their final three outings — picking up one point from a possible nine — and managed just one victory in their last nine league matches since late October.
Morecambe have now lost nine of their 23 matches this season while claiming nine wins and five draws to collect 32 points and sit 16th in the League Two standings, one point and one place below Monday's visitors.
Harrogate Town, on the other hand, were sent crashing back to earth in their final game of the year as they fell to a 2-0 home loss at the hands of Tranmere Rovers on Friday.
Following a goalless first half at the EnviroVent Stadium, 22-year-old forward Charlie Jolley broke the deadlock in the 54th minute to set the Rovers on their way before Tom Davies put the result beyond reach with a 70th-minute effort.
Prior to that, Simon Weaver's men were on a four-game unbeaten run, claiming a 2-2 draw against Wrexham on November 28 before brushing aside Notts County, Grimsby Town and Accrington Stanley in their first three games in December.
After two consecutive home games, Harrogate now make just their second-ever trip to the Mazuma Mobile Stadium, where they suffered a 1-0 loss in their first visit back in December 2020 courtesy of a second-half strike from Aaron Wildig.
However, the Sulphurites will fancy themselves to come away with all three points this time around as they head into the new year on a run of five wins in their last six away matches and have picked up the league's fifth-most points on the road this season (19).
Team News
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Morecambe will be without the services of Scottish defender Donald Love, who has missed the last 10 matches since coming off injured against at Lincoln City on November 4.
He is joined in the Shrimps injury table by 29-year-old goalkeeper Stuart Moore, who has been out of action since sustaining an injury against Sutton United back in October.
Jordan Slew, who has started 14 of the 22 league matches this season, came off with a late injury against Notts County last time out and is a doubt for Monday's matchup.
Like the hosts, Harrogate will take to the pitch without first-choice goalkeeper Mark Oxley, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury in October.
Experienced defender Rod McDonald has missed each of the Sulphurites' five matches in December through injury while Toby Sims has also been sidelined since October.
Morecambe possible starting lineup:
Smith; Tutonda, Bedeau, Connolly, Senior; King, Songo'o; Mayor, Mckiernan, Bloxham, Smith
Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Belshaw; Foulds, Gibson, Burrell, Ramsay; Dooley, Cornelius; Daly, Odoh, Thomson; Muldoon
We say: Morecambe 1-1 Harrogate Town
With just one point separating Morecambe and Harrogate Town in the table, we anticipate an end-to-end affair at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium with both sides going all out in search of a morale-boosting result. Both teams are evenly matched on paper and we predict that they will settle for a point apiece.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
