Harrogate Town v Leyton Orient: 'Places up for grabs' after underwhelming display

There are "places up for grabs" in Harrogate Town’s starting XI ahead of Saturday’s League Two meeting with Leyton Orient.
Will Smith missed Harrogate Town's midweek clash with Cheltenham through suspension after he was sent off at Crawley. Pictures: Matt KirkhamWill Smith missed Harrogate Town's midweek clash with Cheltenham through suspension after he was sent off at Crawley. Pictures: Matt Kirkham
Will Smith missed Harrogate Town's midweek clash with Cheltenham through suspension after he was sent off at Crawley. Pictures: Matt Kirkham

After back-to-back victories, the Sulphurites produced an underwhelming performance against Cheltenham in midweek, leaving manager Simon Weaver disappointed with the contribution of some of his players.

The arrival of seven new faces during the January transfer window means that there is now genuine competition in almost every position, and the Town chief is considering shaking things up in the hope of sparking a response this weekend.

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“We have produced two great performances against Newport and then Crawley before the Cheltenham defeat and we’ve thoroughly deserved the points in those games,” Weaver said.

Town manager Simon Weaver.Town manager Simon Weaver.
Town manager Simon Weaver.

“We tend not to snatch at decisions and be irrational with them, but there are things to think about ahead of Leyton Orient.

“There are a couple of places up for grabs because we needed to see a bit more against Cheltenham from lads in certain positions.”

Town will be boosted by the return from suspension of influential centre-half Will Smith as they seek to record a first victory against the O’s at the fourth time of asking.

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“Orient are another team, similar to Salford City, against whom we have been on the wrong end of results,” Weaver added.

“But at Salford last month we finally prized that door open and we feel we’ve progressed since then and we’ve certainly progressed since last time we played Orient, so we’re hoping for a good performance first and foremost, and hoping to get a positive result.

“It was a frustrating night [against Cheltenham] and we want to bounce back straight away. We want to bounce back in style against Leyton Orient.”

The O's recorded a 3-0 win over Town when the sides last met, at Brisbane Road on November 21, striker Danny Johnson netting a hat-trick.

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The sides' two previous meetings also finished with Harrogate both pointless and goalless, the East London outfit triumphing both home and away in the National League back during 2018/19.

Orient come into Satrday's game 10th in the League Two standings, five places and five points ahead of their hosts, but in poor form.

They have taken just two points from their last four matches and are without a goal in that time.