Harrogate Town are in freefall heading into gameweek 24's New Year's Day League Two encounter with in-form Salford City at the EnviroVent Stadium.
Both sides are at opposite ends of the form table, with Harrogate bottom and Salford second, highlighting their respective patterns before Wednesday's fixture.
Match preview
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Simon Weaver's men stopped the rot with a 1-1 draw at Fleetwood Town to close out 2024, avoiding a sixth defeat on the trot.
Five consecutive losses could have been six had James Belshaw not saved a penalty in second-half stoppage time, denying Fleetwood's Phoenix Patterson in the 91st minute.
Despite that draw, Weaver's men have picked up the fewest points in League Two over the past six rounds, scoring three times and conceding 12 goals.
Although the Sulphurites cannot slide into the relegation spots on New Year's Day, the North Yorkshire outfit sit four points above second-bottom Carlisle United — having played a game more — and five clear of bottom Morecambe.
Winless since November, when they secured two victories on the trot, and without a clean sheet since the second week of October, Harrogate face an uphill task against one of the form teams in the fourth tier.
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Only league-leading Walsall outdid Karl Robinson's side to end 2024, claiming six victories on the trot to Salford's five from six (one defeat), although the Ammies matched the table-topping side for goals (11) and conceded fewer (one).
Robinson's men have kept clean sheets throughout their winning run, beating Notts County (3-0), Accrington Stanley (2-0), Barrow (3-0) and Morecambe (2-0) to end 2024.
Gillingham's Jayden Clarke was the last player to score against the Greater Manchester club, who could register five shutouts on the trot if they prevent Weaver's team from scoring.
Having already done likewise in the reverse fixture on December 3, when Ben Woodburn and Cole Stockton scored the goals in a 2-0 success, Salford will back themselves for a year-opening victory.
With the race for promotion seeing second-placed Notts County (37 points) and 10th-placed Bradford City separated by three points, sixth-placed Salford (36 points) could end the round in second if results go their way, or outside the play-off positions if they lose.
Team News
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Harrogate came through their final match of 2024 seemingly unscathed, giving Weaver a healthy squad on Wednesday.
Josh March returned from suspension to score the equaliser for his third league goal this term, and the Englishman aims to add to his tally on Wednesday.
Having saved a late penalty last time out, Belshaw could be busy between the sticks against the in-form visitors.
Although Dan Chesters (knee) remains absent for the in-form visitors, Haji Mnoga will be assessed after sustaining an injury on Boxing Day; however, Robinson welcomes Tyrese Fornah back into the squad after suspension following the midfielder's sending-off against Barrow.
Stockton's six goals outscore Woodburn, Kylian Kouassi and Kelly N'Mai (three each), making the forward Salford's leading threat against the struggling hosts.
Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Belshaw; Moon, O'Connor, Foulds; Duke-McKenna, Cornelius, Sutton, Dooley, J. Daly; M. Daly; March
Salford City possible starting lineup:
Young; Shephard, Tilt, Garbutt; Taylor, Ashley, Fornah, Berkoe; Woodburn; Kouassi, Stockton
We say: Harrogate Town 0-2 Salford City
Salford enter January 1 in fine form, and they should expect to secure a fifth straight league victory against out-of-form Harrogate, who have failed to score in consecutive fixtures in front of their supporters.
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