Forest Green Rovers make the journey to Wetherby Road to face Harrogate Town this Saturday. The hosts have some good momentum coming into the clash looking to collect six points in their first two games, whereas Rovers will be looking to finally get some points on the board this season.
Harrogate Town made a good start to their League Two season, sitting eighth on three points. Of the nine teams that managed to grab a win in their first game of the season, Harrogate have one of the lowest goal difference, but with five teams on level goal difference, Harrogate can move even further up the table with another win.
A trip to Doncaster was Harrogate’s first game of the season. Jack Muldoon’s converted penalty in the 66th minute gave Harrogate a 1 - 0 win and all three points, despite needing a penalty to take the win, Harrogate dominated this game with seven shots, six of those being on target.
Harrogate also hosted League One Carlisle in the First Round of the League Cup. The only goal of the game came from Sam Folarin in the first half as Harrogate hung on for the rest of the game for the 1 - 0 win and the spot in the Second Round. This win came in spite of Carlisle’s 15 shots with seven on target and their marginal advantage in possession.
Forest Green Rovers will be looking to start their season anew with a win after their opening day loss left them 22nd in the League Two table. However, it so early in the season leaves a lot of wiggle room for Rovers progress further up the table and away from danger.
Rovers’ opening game of the season at home to Salford City left Forest Green wanting a lot more. When Conor McAleny opened the scoring for Salford in the 52nd minute, there was still time for Rovers to get at least a point out of the game. In spite of Forest Green’s 19 shots, with four on target, it was Salford who found the net again, Matt Smith scoring in the 95th minute to make the final score 2 - 0.
Forest Green had a tough midweek clash with Portsmouth in the First Round of the League Cup. The Rovers’ League Cup campaign started well with Tyrese Omotoye scoring first for Forest Green, but this just opened the floodgates for Portsmouth. Kusini Yengi replied for Portsmouth within the first half before a Zak Swanson and a Yengi penalty gave Portsmouth the 3 - 1 win and their spot in the Second Round of the League Cup.
Harrogate and Forest Green have met just four times in their histories, making this fixture harder to predict. Rovers have won on three occasions, with Harrogate winning just once and the fixture has never ended in a draw. However, last time out against each other in 2022, Harrogate came away with the win, a 3 - 1 victory on the occasion.