Harrogate Town will be looking to guarantee their safety in League Two when they go head to head with Fleetwood Town at the Exercise Stadium on Monday.
The Cod Army are on a run of four consecutive games without defeat against the home side and will aim to extend this solid run and secure a third win in four games on the road since late March.
Match preview
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Harrogate Town were left spitting feathers on Friday as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Walsall after conceding a late equaliser when the two sides squared off at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.
After a 16th-minute own goal from Anthony O'Connor put the hosts in front, Josh March and Ellis Taylor found the back of the net to turn the game on its head, but Liam Gordon struck in the 88th minute to force a share of the spoils.
Harrogate Town have now failed to win six of their most recent seven matches — losing twice and claiming four draws — with a 3-2 victory over Tranmere Rovers at the Exercise Stadium on April 1 being the exception.
While Simon Weaver's men failed to guarantee their safety at the weekend, they could get the job done on Monday as they sit 20th in the League Two standings with 47 points from 43 games, seven points above the relegation zone with just three games to go.
Harrogate Town will be backing themselves to come away with the desired result as they return home, where they are on a nine-game unbeaten run, picking up five wins and four draws since a 2-0 defeat against Salford City on New Year's Day.
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Like the home side, Fleetwood Town failed to return to winning ways as they were held to a goalless draw by a resilient Barrow Town side when the two teams squared off on Friday.
A total of 22 shots were fired in the game, but the Cod Army failed to tuck away any of their two clear-cut chances as both sides settled for a share of the spoils at the Highbury Stadium.
Fleetwood have now gone three back-to-back matches without a win, losing consecutive games against Swindon Town and Chesterfield Town before Friday's stalemate while conceding seven goals and failing to find the target across the three matches.
Pete Wild's men have won 14 of their 43 League Two matches so far while losing 14 and claiming 15 draws to collect 57 points and sit 14th in the standings, nine points off the playoff places with just three games left to go.
Next up for Fleetwood is the challenge of taking on an opposing side against whom they are on a four-match unbeaten run, picking up two wins and two draws since a 5-2 thrashing in the National League back in November 2008.
Team News
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Harrogate will head into Monday's game without several players down the spine of the team as the midfield trio of George Thomson, Tom Hill and Warren Burrell have been ruled out through injuries.
Experienced defender Levi Sutton has been sidelined since coming off injured against Carlisle United in March while defenders Matty Foulds and James Moorby are also recuperating from injuries.
As for Fleetwood, Wild will be unable to name the attacking duo of Ronan Coughlan and 26-year-of Irishman Ryan Graydon, who continue their spells on the club's injury table.
English defender Harrison Holgate has been out of action since sustaining a severe injury in September 2024 and the 24-year-old is also out of contention for the visitors.
First-choice goalkeeper David Harrington has missed the second half of the season since coming off injured against Chesterfield in December and the 24-year-old will play no part in Monday's clash.
Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Belshaw; Sims, O'Connor, Moon, Bilongo; Taylor, Morris, Fox, Daly; Muldoon, March
Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
Lynch; Bolton, Virtue, Mayor; Bennett, Helm, Neal, Potter, Rooney; Devonport, Patterson
We say: Harrogate Town 2-1 Fleetwood Town
While it has been a turbulent campaign for Harrogate, they could secure their league status for another season this weekend and we expect them to take the game to Fleetwood in front of their home supporters. Weaver's men have been tough to crack at home since the turn of the year and we are tipping them to see off the inconsistent visitors, albeit by the odd goal.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
