Harrogate Town will play against Mansfield Town later today in a Sky Bet League Two match which sees two sides eager to win. Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver had a pre match chat and talked about changes being made in the team and his thoughts on their last outing against Stevenage.
In Harrogate and Mansfield’s last bout, Harrogate Triumphed in a 3-1 win with Luke Armstrong, Jack Muldoon and George Thomson all adding their names to the scoresheet. When asked about whether or not the previous result would be giving Harrogate’s Team a boost weaver said, “I don’t see why not, what we have to do is keep dusting ourselves down as that’s the mental strength that is required to do so.”
Mansfield have the best form in the league over the last 15 games within which they managed to pick up 34 points and are currently on an eight-game win streak in the league which could propose a threat to Harrogate. “It’s really impressive, it’s a credit to their manager and players for their consistent performances over the last 6 months.”
After the unexpected 3-0 loss to Stevenage over the weekend, there are bound to be some changes to Harrogate’s starting eleven and Weaver stated that “There could be one or two but I’m not one for making six or seven changes when it isn’t needed.” After the Stevenage match Weaver also said that “the lads’ performance today was tired and laboured.”
He further added to this when asked whether or not there would be changes to the training schedule by saying “none of them have the intention of losing three or four nil” as it hurts the team because “we’re used to progression and relentless energy levels.”
Weaver mentioned that one of the reasons for the lethargic performance last week could’ve been the fact that the team “travelled down to Sutton the night before and lost sleep.”
He rounded off the interview by stating what the message the team had been delivered throughout the week in the lead up to the match. “be right up for it and be first on each occasion, we’ve got a good chance of getting stuck into battles with the home crowd behind us.”
If Harrogate win this match, they will move up to thirteenth in the table which, for Harrogate’s second season in League Two, is s solid showing. “If at the start of the season we were offered this position then we would’ve done, we have to establish ourselves.”