Two sides jostling it out for positions within mid-table will go head to head this weekend when Stevenage welcome Harrogate Town to Broadhall Way.
With the pair having successfully navigated any potential relegation battles, the hosts will be hoping for a win that takes them to within one points of Harrogate.
Match preview
© Reuters
Steady operators for much of the campaign, Stevenage have been able to keep their nose above water this season, and look set for back-to-back mid-table finishes.
After finishing in what usually would have constituted as the relegation zone two campaigns ago, Stevenage were spared relegation due to Bury FC's expulsion from the Football League.
Looking set for an eighth consecutive season in the fourth tier, Stevenage will enter the weekend in the midst of their best league unbeaten run of the campaign.
Having avoided defeat for four matches in a row, the Boro will be looking to stretch that run to five games when Harrogate visit.
Only in their second season as a Football League club, Harrogate have settled in well to life in the fourth tier, currently sitting comfortable in 12th.
With the playoffs looking like a distant dream, given their eight points gap between themselves and seventh-placed Mansfield Town, Simon Weaver's side will be confident of securing a top-half finish in League Two for the first ever time.
If they are to do just that, picking up points against the teams below them will be imperative, but Harrogate enter the weekend in somewhat of a rut.
One win in their last four matches has dented Harrogate's progression somewhat, with the Yorkshire outfit's only victory since the beginning of January coming against bottom-placed Oldham Athletic last weekend.
Neither side will likely be happy with the goalless draw played out when the pair met earlier in the season, with Harrogate still chasing their first-ever victory over Stevenage.
Two of their meetings as Football League sides so far have ended 0-0, whilst Stevenage remain the only side to take three points from this fixture – a 1-0 triumph at Broadhall Way last March.
- D
- L
- W
- D
- W
- D
- D
- L
- L
- L
- L
- W
- W
- W
- L
- L
- W
- L
Team News
The hosts will likely start with Christy Pym in goal, with a defensive partnership of Luke Prosser and Scott Cuthbert.
Setting up with their familiar three in midfield, a trio of Chris Lines, Terence Vancooten and Jake Reeves will look to dominate the midfield battle for Stevenage.
Attacking inspiration will be found by Luke Norris, who scored last time out against Hartlepool United, with Zain Westbrooke and Jake Taylor providing creativity from out wide.
For Harrogate, midfielder Josh Falkingham featured in the win against Oldham, with Lloyd Kerry likely to partner him in the centre of the park.
Striker Luke Armstrong will retain his position at the tip of the Harrogate attack as he looks for the goals to secure a welcome win.
Star man in the victory over the Latics, Jack Muldoon netted all three goals in the triumph, and the winger will be keen to extend his impressive scoring form.
Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Pym; Wildin, Cuthbert, Prosser, Coker; Reeves, Vancooten, Lines; Taylor, Norris, Westbrooke
Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Oxley; Burrell, McArdle, Richards; Thomson, Falkingham, Kerry, Page; Muldoon, Diarra, Armstrong
We say: Stevenage 1-1 Harrogate Town
Harrogate had forgotten what the winning feeling felt like before the demolition of Oldham, with the Sulphurites no doubt keen to keep the spirits high within their camp.
Stevenage has not been an easy opponent for them since jumping into the Football League, but they should be able to at least squeeze a point on Saturday.
Top tip
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Harrogate Town win with a probability of 38.48%. A win for Stevenage had a probability of 34.59% and a draw had a probability of 26.9%.
The most likely scoreline for a Harrogate Town win was 0-1 with a probability of 10.55%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (8.28%) and 0-2 (6.83%). The likeliest Stevenage win was 1-0 (9.88%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.79%). The actual scoreline of 3-0 was predicted with a 2.4% likelihood.
