Harrogate Town v Cheltenham Town: Simon Weaver demands same attacking intent against Robins

The Sulphurites have too often been found lacking in both goals and creativity in recent months, but engineered plenty of opportunities and scored twice at Oldham Athletic on Boxing Day.

They picked up where they left off at home to Carlisle United in midweek, finding the back of the net inside 60 seconds through Connor Kirby, and the Town boss is hopeful that a corner has been turned.

“It was definitely a big positive, the way we came out of the traps on Tuesday,” Weaver said.

“It was an absolutely fantastic start and we really carried on what we did last Saturday – the energy, pace, winning the first ball, winning the second ball, getting it wide.

“That first 10 minutes had everything that you’d want to see from Harrogate Town and although we’re disappointed that the game ended up getting called off, I think we can take that start into the next game.

“We were on the front foot, which is how we have tended to play at home for the last few years. We’ve lost our way a little bit at home in recent weeks but, without getting carried away, we we feel as if we may have turned the corner in terms of being a bit more incisive.

“We can take great heart from that and there will be no excuses for not coming out the traps as quickly against Cheltenham.”

The Robins travel to North Yorkshire without a win in their last five League Two outings, however they still find themselves fourth in the table following a blistering start to 2020/21.

And, while Weaver is wary of the threat that Michael Duff’s men possess, he says that Town’s focus has to be on their own game.

“Cheltenham are another very, very strong team,” the Town chief added.

“Their outlets will be the width of their wing-backs, so we will have to find a way of nullifying that threat, but at the same time be true to ourselves and get the ball down and play.

“We want to see quick football and incisive passing and try and penetrate what is an experienced Cheltenham rearguard.

“They play three at the back, so the shape that we went with [against Oldham and Carlisle] will cause problems for them centrally.

“It will be a true test, but we thought that about Exeter, Oldham, and Carlisle, and we feel that we are getting stronger as a team.”

Saturday will see Town attempt to record what would be their first League Two success on home soil since October 17.

They are winless in their previous six league fixtures at Wetherby Road, but have come out on top in each of their last two away trips and led third-placed Carlisle 1-0 in midweek before that game was abandoned.

Opponents Cheltenham's own form is not the best either. The Robins have failed to win any of their last six matches in all competitions, drawing 0-0 at Colchester in midweek, having been held by struggling Stevenage four days earlier.