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

The hosts, meanwhile, have won three of their last four games to move away from the relegation zone.

Match preview

Indeed, Harrogate looked set for an extremely difficult campaign after losing five of their opening seven league games, but collecting 10 points from their last five matches has helped Simon Weaver move nine points clear of the bottom two.

The Sulphurites have performed above expectations to avoid being embroiled in a relegation battle since being promoted into the Football League for the first time in the club's history in 2020, with Weaver - who is comfortably the longest serving manager in England having been in charge since 2009 - helping them to 17th, 19th and 19th-placed finishes in the fourth tier.

However, there was a feeling that this season may be one too far for Harrogate, but recent wins against Salford City, Milton Keynes Dons and Newport County have illustrated that they should not be underestimated.

Strikes either side of half time from George Thomson and Anthony O'Connor put them two goals up in South Wales last weekend, but Will Evans set up a nervy finish for the visitors at Newport, who could not find a crucial equaliser.

While Weaver and his players will recognise the difficulty of the task in front of them in terms of facing an in-form Stockport side, they will fancy their chances of causing an upset based on their recent performances and results.

That said, Stockport - who headed into this season as one of the favourites for promotion from League Two - look well set to make their return to England's third tier for the first time since 2010.

The Hatters finished fourth in their first season back in the Football League following winning the National League in 2022, ultimately missing out on back-to-back promotions when losing on penalties to Carlisle United in the play-off final in May.

Dave Challinor's side appeared to be suffering a hangover from this bitter defeat when losing their opening two games of the new campaign, taking just six points from their first five matches. However, they have since bounced back to win six consecutive games in the division, moving one point behind league leaders Notts County in the process.

Isaac Olaofe's 83rd-minute winner settled a tight encounter against Doncaster Rovers last weekend, before Paddy Madden bagged himself a hat-trick away to Salford in the Football League Trophy in midweek, suggesting Challinor's side have every chance of continuing their winning run in North Yorkshire on Saturday as they attempt to move to League Two's summit.

Harrogate Town League Two form:

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Stockport County League Two form:

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Team News

Weaver made 10 changes for his side's 5-3 defeat at home to Accrington Stanley in the Football League Trophy in midweek, with centre-back Warren Burrell being the only player to retain his starting place from the impressive league win against Newport.

As such, it would be no surprise to see Weaver revert to the same team which proved victorious in Wales, with Thomson hoping to add to his tally after bagging his third goal of the season.

Likewise, Challinor also made 10 alterations when making the short trip to Salford in the cup on Tuesday, with Akil Wright the last man standing from the team that defeated Doncaster late on.

Madden has certainly given his manager plenty of food for thought after rolling back the years to score a hat-trick against their Greater Manchester rivals, and he could have earned himself another start ahead of Louie Barry for Saturday.

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:

Oxley; Ramsay, O'Connor, Burrell, Gibson; Cornelius, Falkingham; Thomson, M Daly, J Daly; March

Stockport County possible starting lineup:

Hinchiffe; Southam-Hales, Wright, Horsfall, Pye; Collar, Croasdale, Bailey; Sarcevic; Olaofe, Madden

We say: Harrogate Town 0-2 Stockport County

Stockport are a serious juggernaut at present, with Challinor's side appearing to have shaken off their slow start to the season to become the most well-rounded team in the division.

Harrogate have put together a nice run themselves in recent weeks, suggesting they have enough about them to stay up once again, but they are likely to find the going much tougher on Saturday against a team looking primed for promotion.

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