Harrogatevs.Doncaster

Rovers moved top of the League Two table with their latest success at the weekend, while their hosts have struggled at the start of the new season.

Match preview

Following a third defeat from five league games last time out, Harrogate Town occupy 20th place in League Two, with just four points on the board so far.

The Sulphurites lost 1-0 to Cheltenham Town on Saturday, despite going into second-half stoppage time with a point apparently secured; Tom Bradbury's late strike ultimately saw them head home empty-handed.

Now in their fifth consecutive season in England's fourth tier, Harrogate are aiming to improve on last term's 13th-placed finish, but their only league win thus far came against Colchester United last month.

Since then, Simon Weaver's side have been beaten three times without scoring a single goal, including a 5-0 thumping by Preston North End in the EFL Cup.

Yet to pick up a point on home soil, Harrogate will now hope to replicate last season's 3-1 win over Doncaster Rovers at Wetherby Road, when Sam Folarin, James Daly and Abraham Odoh were all on target for the hosts.

Despite their respective positions at this stage of the 2024-25 campaign, Doncaster have failed to get the better of Harrogate in recent times, going without a win in the clubs' last four League Two meetings.

Losing three times during that run, Rovers trail 8-3 in terms of goals scored; however, current form suggests they will expect to end that trend on Thursday.

Grant McCann's men top the table on 12 points, one ahead of Notts County through five matches, following Saturday's 1-0 home win over Gillingham, with veteran striker Billy Sharp proving the match winner thanks to his 30th-minute strike.

Not only are Rovers riding high in the early League Two standings, but they also saw off Huddersfield Town in their EFL Trophy opener last week, when Joe Ironside scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory.

Picking up where they left off towards the end of last season - when a 10-game winning run was followed by defeat in the playoffs - has boosted hopes of earning automatic promotion this time around, and another win in midweek would build more momentum.

Harrogate Town League Two form:

Harrogate Town form (all competitions):

W

D

W

L

L

L

Doncaster Rovers League Two form:

Doncaster Rovers form (all competitions):

L

W

L

W

W

W

Team News

Harrogate Town boss Simon Weaver is likely to field a similar XI to that which started last week's loss to Cheltenham, with top scorer Sam Folarin leading the hosts' attack.

Despite being troubled by a hamstring issue, Folarin has netted three goals this season, while fellow forward James Daly (two) is also set to feature in the final third.

Anthony O'Connor and Toby Sims should join Jasper Moon in defence, after the latter made his club debut last time out, having arrived from Burton Albion on transfer deadline day.

Meanwhile, Doncaster manager Grant McCann may be tempted to rotate his resources, with Joe Ironside and Ephraim Yeboah both offering alternative options up front, but 38-year-old Billy Sharp stands in their way.

The ex-Sheffield United striker should lead the line with support from Luke Molyneux, who has already scored five goals so far this term; Sharp has four.

Though Ben Close recently returned from a long injury layoff, James Maxwell and captain Richard Wood will both be sidelined for several more weeks. Another defender, Tom Nixon, is also expected to miss Thursday's trip across Yorkshire.

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:

Belshaw; Moon, O'Connor, Sims; Asare, Dooley, Cornelius, Taylor; M. Daly; J. Daly, Folarin

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:

Sharman-Lowe; Sterry, Anderson, McGrath, Fleming; Westbrooke, Bailey; Molyneux, Clifton, Gibson; Sharp

We say: Harrogate Town 1-2 Doncaster Rovers

As Doncaster have sprinted away from the start line while Harrogate have yet to find their rhythm, the visitors should extend their positive run of results on Thursday evening.

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