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

Hartlepool have lost six of their last seven in the fourth tier with safety in their second season at this level looking unlikely, whereas Harrogate earned a vital three points last weekend against Mansfield Town.

Match preview

Hartlepool are yet to see a new manager bounce since parting company with ex-Cove Rangers coach Paul Hartley in October after just three months in charge, with Keith Curle winning only two of his 13 matches at the helm to date.

After 21 minutes last weekend Hartlepool were 3-0 down at the Furness Building Society Stadium to high-flying Barrow, a deficit the visitors were not able to eliminate as they lost their 11th game in 19 League Two matches.

That defeat leaves United rooted to the bottom of the fourth-tier table, two points from safety whilst possessing the worst defensive record in the division, having conceded 34 times in those 19 fixtures.

Hartlepool have made it to the second round this weekend without winning a game in normal time in the FA Cup so far after playing out a 1-1 draw with National League side Solihull Moors and then advancing past the non-league outfit thanks to penalty-shootout win at The Suit Direct Stadium in a replay.

The Durham-based club may take confidence from the fact that this exact fixture was played out in the EFL Trophy earlier on this season, with Hartlepool beating Harrogate 2-0 courtesy of a brace from 23-year-old Mikael Ndjoli, however both teams ended up missing out on progression to the knockout stages of that competition.

After failing to record a clean sheet in their nine previous League Two matches, Harrogate surprised even their most optimistic supporters by running out 3-0 winners against play-off chasing Mansfield at the CNG Stadium.

Two first-half strikes from Luke Armstrong and a sixth goal of the season for midfielder Alex Pattison meant Town were three goals to the good at the half-time interval, with Simon Weaver's men able to hold out in the second half to achieve their greatest margin of victory this season.

That success over The Stags ended a run of five games without a win in League Two and provided some much-needed momentum going into a winnable tie against Hartlepool this weekend.

Harrogate booked their place in the second round of this year's competition after a 1-0 win in West Yorkshire against Bradford City three weeks ago, with a victory against their divisional rivals on Saturday enough to equal the furthest The Sulphurites have ever progressed in the FA Cup.

Hartlepool United FA Cup form:

D

W

Hartlepool United form (all competitions):

L

W

D

L

W

L

Harrogate Town FA Cup form:

W

Harrogate Town form (all competitions):

L

L

W

D

L

W

Team News

Hartlepool have continued issues in defence ahead of the visit of Harrogate, with David Ferguson a doubt after going off injured in the defeat at Barrow, meaning Mohamad Sylla could slot in alongside Euan Murray at centre-back.

Captain Nicky Featherstone was substituted during the half-time break at Barrow but should maintain his place in the starting XI, with Christopher Missilou likely to partner him in the midfield after scoring on his debut for the club last time out.

Harrogate welcomed back 30-year-old George Thomson to the pitch against Mansfield after over a month out, with manager Weaver delighted to have such an experienced and professional player back in amongst the action as winter approaches.

Dior Angus has resumed training after his injury but Saturday will come too soon for the forward, with the same true for Max Wright who has not featured for The Sulphurites since his transfer from Grimsby Town in the summer.

Hartlepool United possible starting lineup:

Killip; Tumilty, Murray, Sylla, Paterson; Featherstone, Missilou, Cooke; Grey, Oduor, Umerah

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:

Jameson; Ramsay, Burrell, Mattock, Headley; Falkingham, Pattison, Muldoon, Daly, Grant; Armstrong

We say: Hartlepool United 0-1 Harrogate Town

Hartlepool are facing a harsh winter period as they look to survive in League Two, but a successful run in the FA Cup could help lift spirits around the club.

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