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Harrogate's Match Preview: 

Another Yorkshire derby beckons for Town this weekend and Simon Weaver's side will be looking to continue their strong record against local rivals when they make the trip to face Doncaster Rovers.
And with the goalless draw against Colchester in midweek extending their unbeaten run to three games, including posting consecutive clean sheets confidence will be high within the squad.
Our opponents
Rovers come into the game well positioned in the playoff positions and on the fringes of the automatic spots with their 43 points from 26 games seeing them currently in sixth place.At the Eco-Power stadium they have taken 22 points from 13 games, winning six and drawing four including although they have won just two of their last eight at home with a 2-1 defeat to Port Vale last time out.
Previous meetings
Town of course triumphed 2-0 earlier in the season in front of the Sky TV cameras thanks to goals in each half from Ellis Taylor and Josh March. The win meant Town stretched their unbeaten run against Rovers to five games, recording four wins in the process. They have won on both trips to the Eco-Power Stadium with a Jack Muldoon penalty taking all three points on the opening day of the 2023/24 season whilst Luke Armstrong and Alex Pattison struck to earn a 2-0 win back in 2022/23.
The man in charge
Grant McCann is the man in charge for Rovers, having previously been in charge during the 2018/19 season as well as having two spells at Peterborough United and managing Hull City. A former Northern Ireland international, earning 39 caps, McCann had a career that saw him play over 500 league games starting at West Ham before moving to Cheltenham, Barnsley, Scunthorpe and Peterborough United.
Ones to watch
Luke Molyneux is again having a strong season, netting eight times and notching four assists from an attacking midfield position. Veteran Billy Sharp has struck seven goals in eighteen starts with winger Jordan Gibson netting four times. Full-back Jamie Sterry has six assists to underline his credentials from an attacking standpoint whilst Owen Bailey has been an ever present in the line-up as has on-loan keeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe.
History
After being founded back in 1879 the club were elected to the Football League in 1901, however lost re-election votes soon after and returned to non-league before finally rejoining the Football League in 1923.
The club would go on to win Third Division North titles in the mid-1930’s and late 1940’s,bouncing between the bottom two tiers from the 1960’s onwards before suffering relegation out of the league in 1998. It took the club five seasons to get back into the EFL, then securing an immediate promotion from League Two before winning the League One playoffs in 2007 to reach the second tier for the first time in their history.

Harrogate Team news
Josh Falkingham, Matty Foulds and George Thomson remain on the sidelines for Town, though Liam Gibson is getting closer to a return. New boys Tom Hill and Tom Cursons will be available for selection though after joining the club on permanent deals this week.


   
 

Last edited by Matchman (25/1/2025 7:34 AM)