Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver insists that the team’s recent narrow defeats to promotion-chasing Notts County and Port Vale won’t determine their season’s trajectory.
After showing resilience against Bradford City and Newport County, The Sulphurites found themselves on the wrong side of back-to-back 1-0 results, with league leaders Port Vale clinching a win at Wetherby Road before Notts County’s Allassana Jatta netted the winning goal this past weekend.
Speaking to the Harrogate Advertiser, Weaver highlighted the quality of the opposition while also recognising Harrogate’s efforts: “I don’t think that narrow defeats to Notts County and Port Vale are going to define our season. There are other games that we have to take points from that will see us okay. We are obviously disappointed to lose any game of football but we have lost by narrow score-lines against two teams who are probably going to be promoted automatically. They have such strong squads.”
“Got to Be Realistic” – Weaver’s Honest Appraisal
Weaver’s pragmatic approach reflects his understanding of Harrogate Town’s position within League Two. Acknowledging the calibre of the teams they’ve recently faced, he emphasised the need to remain grounded about their current season ambitions: “It’s not being negative about our own situation, we have got to be realistic. We are trying to be hard to beat and have conceded two goals from open play in five [league] games through being resilient and organised.”
“We have to be in it together.” 💪
Simon Weaver reflects on today’s defeat at Meadow Lane 👇
— Harrogate Town AFC (@HarrogateTown) October 26, 2024
With these sentiments, Weaver highlighted Harrogate’s defensive resilience, as they’ve conceded only two goals from open play in their last five league outings. Despite the recent setbacks, Town’s defensive improvements underline the progress Weaver’s side has made, providing them with a solid foundation as they prepare for upcoming fixtures.
Currently sitting 17th in League Two, Harrogate’s current position could potentially match their second-best finish in the division. Last season, they showed early promise as play-off contenders before fading toward the end of the campaign. Weaver aims to build on that experience, seeing every close game as a learning opportunity.
Home Advantage and FA Cup Clash Await
With eight days to regroup, Weaver and his team will next face Wrexham in the FA Cup first round on Sunday. Wrexham, a side managed by Phil Parkinson, failed to overcome Harrogate in both of last season’s meetings, with the teams drawing home and away. This time, with home advantage and a recent record of frustrating higher-placed teams, Weaver hopes his side can capitalise on their hard work.
After the FA Cup, Harrogate returns to league action with a match against bottom-placed Morecambe. The upcoming schedule could favour Harrogate as they play their next four games at Wetherby Road, which might be crucial in establishing some mid-season momentum. Their next away match is a longer trip south to Gillingham, scheduled for the end of November.
Our View
Harrogate Town’s recent performances against promotion favourites show they can compete with the best in the league, even if they’ve fallen short in terms of results. Weaver’s realistic outlook is refreshing, and the team’s defensive organisation is evident in the low number of goals conceded. With a series of home games coming up, Harrogate has a real chance to solidify their position in the table and turn close losses into points.
Facing Morecambe will be a critical fixture in League Two, with both sides keen to gain much-needed points. If Harrogate can apply the lessons learned from their recent matches, they’ll be in a strong position to perform well against Morecambe and build momentum for the second half of the season.
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