Preview: Harrogate Town vs. Swindon Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Harrogate Town and Swindon Town square off in League Two on Saturday afternoon both looking for wins to move them closer to the playoff places.

As it stands, the teams are separated by just one point in 14th and 12th position in the standings respectively.

Match preview

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Over the past 12 matches, it has been all or nothing for Harrogate, who have posted six wins and six defeats in all competitions.

As many as nine losses have come in 17 league fixtures, yet Simon Weaver will be delighted that his team are 14th and nine points clear of the bottom two.

Preceding the 2-0 defeat to Carlisle United in the EFL Trophy, Harrogate posted a 5-1 triumph away at Marine in the FA Cup and a 1-0 success at Walsall in the fourth tier.

Despite their standing in the league, Harrogate now have four successive wins on their travels, but they have endured contrasting fortunes at Wetherby Road.

Just six points have been accumulated from eight matches on familiar territory, something which must improve if they want to remain in the hunt for a surprise promotion.

Swindon fans will feel encouraged by the fact that they were able to push leaders Stockport County all the way in the last outing, eventually losing by a 4-2 scoreline.

Nevertheless, it also represented their fifth successive defeat in all competitions, as many as 18 goals being conceded during that period.

Michael Flynn will be aware that he needs to find a way to get his team back on track, with a total of eight defeats now being posted in just 10 matches.

August 15 was the last time Swindon won an away fixture and that was against a team in Forest Green Rovers who now sit in 23rd place.

Team News

George Thomson will expect to be recalled to the Harrogate XI after coming off the substitutes' bench to score the decisive goal against Walsall.

That may lead to James Daly starting among the replacements, while Dean Cornelius could get the nod over Levi Sutton in a deeper role.

Although they succumbed to defeat versus Stockport, there are unlikely to be many changes to the Swindon starting lineup.

Despite his withdrawal on the hour mark, Charlie Austin should retain his spot if passed fit, with Rushian Hepburn-Murphy having to remain patient for a recall.

William Kokolo made his league debut for Swindon last time out and could keep his place ahead of Tyrese Shade.

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:

Mitchell; Ramsey, O'Connor, McDonald, Foulds; Falkingham, Cornelius; Folarin, Thomson, Odoh; Muldoon

Swindon Town possible starting lineup:

Mahoney; Godwin-Malife, Brewitt, Blake-Tracy; Hutton, Khan, McEachran, Kokolo; Kemp; Young, Austin

We say: Harrogate Town 2-1 Swindon Town

Although their places in the table indicate two well-matched teams, that is not the case when it comes to form. While Swindon may turn things around at some stage, we are backing Harrogate to collect another victory that will move them closer to the top seven.

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