Preview: Harrogate Town vs Crawley Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Eyeing an outside push for the League Two playoff places, Harrogate Town will welcome struggling Crawley Town to the Exercise Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Sulphurites are looking for their first win in three games, while the Red Devils are desperate for their first victory of the campaign.

Match preview

Simon Weaver's Harrogate finished 18th in the fourth tier in 2024-25, a comfortable 11 points above the relegation zone but 17 short of Chesterfield in the playoff spots.

This time around, the Sulphurites kicked off their season with a 1-0 win on the road to Bristol Rovers, and while their overall form has been mixed, they are now 14th in the table with eight points, just three behind seventh-placed MK Dons.

However, with back-to-back defeats ahead of this weekend's clash, Weaver's side may find themselves lacking in confidence despite their promotion ambitions.

Last Sunday, Harrogate followed up a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Spireites with a 2-0 loss at Bromley, marking the first time in 2025-26 that they have failed to find the back of the net.

Three points on Saturday would be enough to move them level with the Dons and fellow playoff-hopefuls Grimsby Town and Fleetwood Town, but considering that the hosts have only won one of their last eight home games - a stretch that also includes six losses and one draw - fans would be forgiven for harbouring doubts.

Meanwhile, Scott Lindsey's Crawley were relegated from League One in 2024-25, but while they are desperate to bounce back to the third tier at the first time of asking, they have made a shockingly poor start.

The Red Devils won three of their first four pre-season matches as they prepared for what they hoped would be a promotion charge, but they have failed to triumph in any of their 10 games since, drawing twice and losing eight times in the process.

Most recently, Lindsey's men secured a point in a 2-2 stalemate with Chesterfield last Sunday, and while the result could have been worse, the manager will be frustrated that his team surrendered the 2-0 lead that Harry McKirdy earned them with his first-half brace.

That draw left Crawley 22nd in the table with just two points to their name, a tally that has them level with fellow demoted club Shrewsbury Town, who are in the relegation zone on goal difference.

A first victory of the campaign could see the visitors leapfrog Accrington Stanley, Newport County and Oldham Athletic to climb up to 19th place, and while they have lost five of their last six away games, the Red Devils could take heart from aspects of their performance on the road to the Spireites.

Harrogate Town League Two form:

Harrogate Town form (all competitions):

Crawley Town League Two form:

Crawley Town form (all competitions):

Team News

Harrogate will be without wide man Stephen Duke-McKenna, attacker Reece Smith and loanee left-back Jacob Slater as they are fulfilling their international duties.

In their absence, Conor McAleny should come into the XI on the left flank, while Mason Bennett starts behind striker Shawn McCoulsky, and Warren Burrell operates at left-back.

Elsewhere, midfielder Levi Sutton is a doubt due to a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since March, though Bryn Morris and Jack Evans are ready to start at the base of Weaver's midfield once again.

As for Crawley, they are also missing a trio of players as a result of international matches, with forward Kaheim Dixon, goalkeeper Joe Wollacott and winger Dion Pereira all called up by their nations.

Kabongo Tshimanga could replace Dixon up top, Ade Adeyemo should start on the right where Pereira would play, and Harvey Davies is set to line up between the sticks.

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:

Belshaw; Cass, O'Connor, Bradbury, Burrell; Morris, Evans; Taylor, Bennett, McAleny; McCoulsky

Crawley Town possible starting lineup:

Davies; Barker, Conroy, Flint; Bajrami; Adeyemo, Scott, Watson, Cashman; Tshimaga, McKirdy

We say: Harrogate Town 1-2 Crawley Town

Harrogate have been poor at home in recent months, and they could struggle once again this weekend despite their opponent's strife

Crawley may be enduring a tough campaign, but the fact that they raced into a two-goal lead on the road last time out could inspire them to their first win of the season.

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