Seeking to change their woeful run of form on home soil, Harrogate Town will welcome recently-promoted Wrexham to the EnviroVent Stadium on Tuesday night in League Two.
The Sulphurites were not their ruthless selves on the road on Saturday afternoon as they were defeated by Crawley Town, while the Red Dragons made easy work of managerless Morecambe at The Racecourse Ground.
Match preview
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Before the weekend's trip to Broadfield Stadium to face Crawley, Harrogate had enjoyed a four-game winning streak on the road in League Two, beating Walsall, Colchester United, Newport County and MK Dons, but Town were unable to maintain the impressive run in West Sussex.
Sulphurites attacker Jack Muldoon netted his third goal of the season in the closing stages of the first half to cancel out Klaidi Lolos's opener for the hosts, but helped by a slight error from visiting goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell, centre-back Ben Gladwin scored the winner in the second period for the Red Devils.
Following on from back-to-back 19th-placed finishes in League Two, Harrogate are now setting off on a mission to ruffle feathers nearer the upper echelons of the division, although Simon Weaver's men are currently sitting in a humble 15th position, six points behind Accrington Stanley in seventh.
Town will certainly have to improve their form at the EnviroVent Stadium if they are to be challenging for a playoff place this season, having lost five of their last six competitive matches in front of their own supporters, with a five-game losing run at home being halted by a 1-1 draw against Swindon Town on November 18.
Having made the net ripple on just 18 occasions in the fourth tier so far this term, the Sulphurites are the lowest scorers in the division and rely heavily on the likes of George Thompson for attacking firepower, but the 31-year-old is enduring a dry patch in front of the net, failing to score in his last six league appearances.
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After a remarkable 11-game unbeaten run was halted at the home of Accrington last Saturday, promotion-chasing Wrexham were in merciless mood at The Racecourse Ground on the weekend, with a Morecambe side under the temporary stewardship of John McMahon being the Welsh club's latest victims.
The Red Dragons raced into a two-goal lead after just seven minutes courtesy of an own goal from Joel Senior and a Paul Mullin strike, before the 29-year-old completed a hat-trick in the second period while substitutes James Jones and Jacob Mendy also wrote their names onto the scoresheet for the hosts.
Hitting the Shrimps for six and returning the winning ways last time out was massively helpful in terms of goal difference but has also allowed Wrexham to close the gap to first-placed Stockport County to only five points after Dave Challinor's side suffered a shock defeat to Newport.
During Wrexham's title-winning campaign of 2022-23, much of the media spotlight was shone upon the Golden Boot race between Mullin and Notts County's Macaulay Langstaff, but this term has witnessed another Red Dragon grab the role as leading marksman, with midfielder Elliot Lee bagging 10 goals in 19 league appearances.
The 28-year-old's goal contributions from the engine room has reportedly led to a number of Championship and League One clubs enquiring about his services, although the Hollywood glamour at The Racecourse Ground has assisted the club to attract some experienced second-tier names over the summer such as former Wigan Athletic winger James McClean.
Team News
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Harrogate suffered an injury blow in the loss at Crawley last time out, as striker Samuel Folarin was forced off in the first half after sustaining a hamstring strain, with the 23-year-old expected to be sidelined for some time.
Josh March replaced the youngster in West Sussex at the tip of the Sulphurites attack after returning from his own hamstring issue, and the forward should play from the start on Tuesday.
Weaver is low on options in midfield ahead of the visit of Wrexham, with both Levi Sutton and Matty Daly unlikely to be available for selection.
Wrexham also had a key player exit the field in the early stages due to an injury on the weekend, with right-back Anthony Forde being replaced by Gambia international Mendy in the 27th minute.
The Red Dragons are set to be without the services of centre-back Jordan Tunnicliffe for a period of time due to a hamstring injury, meaning natural midfielder Thomas O'Connor will continue in the backline alongside Aaron Hayden and Ben Tozer.
Ryan Barnett, Eoghan O'Connell and striker Steven Fletcher are progressing with their recoveries from their respective knocks, but none of the trio will feature at Harrogate in midweek.
Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Mitchell; Ramsay, O'Connor, McDonald, Foulds; Dooley, Odoh, Cornelius; Thomson, Muldoon, March
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Forde, Hayden, Tozer, Thomas O'Connor, McClean; Cannon, Evans, Lee; Palmer, Mullin
We say: Harrogate Town 0-2 Wrexham
Harrogate were arguably the better side in the contest against Crawley despite defeat, although Tuesday's test against Wrexham will be significantly sterner as the Sulphurites look to banish their awful home form.
The Red Dragons were at their ruthless best on Saturday and will be confident of recording back-to-back wins at the expense of a side who have struggled in front of their own fans.
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Carter White
