Preview: Harrogate Town vs. Forest Green Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts emerged victorious against Doncaster Rovers last weekend, while the visitors' return to the fourth tier got off to a miserable start against Salford City.

Match preview

This campaign marks Harrogate Town's fourth-straight season in League Two, and after finishing 19th last season, and nine points above the relegation zone, Simon Weaver will be hoping for an improved finish come the end of this campaign.

Jack Muldoon's second-half penalty got Harrogate off to the perfect start as they triumphed in the opening-day Yorkshire derby at Doncaster.

Muldoon confidently fired home in the 66th minute after Joseph Olowu was deemed to have brought down Abraham Odoh in the box, and that goal proved to be the difference between the two sides.

The Sulphurites also extended their unbeaten record against newly-promoted League One outfit Carlisle United in midweek by beating Paul Simpson's side 1-0 in the EFL Cup first-round tie.

As for the visitors, their return to League Two was marked with a 2-0 defeat against Salford City at The Bolt New Lawn.

A Conor McAleny strike and late substitute Matt Smith's header were enough to secure all three points for Salford, handing the Rovers their first opening-day defeat since 2016.

David Horseman will be hoping he can guide his side back up to the third tier at the first time of asking, but after losing 31 of their 46 league games last season, finishing a distant bottom in League One in the process, Horseman has a major challenge on his hands to restore a winning mentality at the club.

A first-round EFL Cup defeat to Portsmouth has since followed the opening-day loss against Salford, and things do not get any easier for the Green as their struggles on the road are well documented - they only won one game from 23 attempts on their travels last season.

Harrogate Town League Two form:

W

Harrogate Town form (all competitions):

Forest Green Rovers League Two form:

L

Forest Green Rovers form (all competitions):

Advert - content below:

Team News

Simon Weaver made several changes to the team that was victorious at Doncaster when Harrogate faced Carlisle, with only Mark Oxley, Abraham Odoh, Sam Folarin and Matty Foulds named in the starting lineup, so the likes of Jack Muldoon, Anthony O'Connor and Rod McDonald could potentially return to the fold here.

Matty Daly could also make his way into the starting XI supporting Folarin in attack, while Oxley will keep his place between the sticks.

As for Forest Green Rovers, Horseman made several changes to his side for the EFL Cup match against Portsmouth, so he could revert to a similar lineup to the one that lost to Salford on the opening day of the season.

Matty Taylor and Mathew Stevens look set to continue their partnership in attack, while Jordan Moore-Taylor will keep his place at the heart of the Rovers defence.

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:

Oxley; Sims, McDonald, O'Connor, Foulds; Gibson, Cornelius, M. Daly; Folarin, Odoh, Muldoon

Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:

Daniels; Bernard, Inniss, Moore-Taylor, Robson; McAllister, Jones, McCann, Jenks; Stevens, Taylor

We say: Harrogate Town 1-1 Forest Green Rovers

Forest Green have the advantage in terms of the head-to-head record against Harrogate, winning three of their four meetings.

Previews by email