Harrogate Town v Notts County: Sulphurites 'are good enough'
Harrogate Town will have to get the better of promotion-chasing Notts County on Saturday afternoon if they are to end the weekend outside of the League Two relegation zone.
The Sulphurites passed up yet another opportunity to do exactly that when they lost at Oldham last time out, but results elsewhere mean that they remain just a point from safety.
And although frustrated that his players were unable to capitalise on that latest chance to escape the bottom two, Simon Weaver has moved to reassure them that he has every confidence in their ability to preserve Football League status.
"The lads were hurting after the Oldham game because it was an opportunity missed based on our performance,” the Town boss said. “But, results elsewhere have helped heal things slightly as everyone else lost.
"It’s another game gone, but we are right in the mix, particularly because of how we are playing. We can’t be too downbeat, and we move on straight away.
“I said to Jack Evans and Bryn Morris after Saturday’s game that we have to keep positive, stay up, and then challenge – because we are good enough.”
Getting a result against a County side who currently sit fourth in the table won’t be easy, however.
The Magpies have won four of their previous seven games, and 10 out of their last 15, with that recent run of results keeping them very much in contention for an automatic promotion spot.
And, although they were beaten 3-0 at Oldham in midweek, they have been scoring goals for fun prior to that defeat, thrashing Cheltenham 5-2 on Saturday following on from a 4-0 demolition of Accrington.
Currently the second-highest scorers in League Two, Martin Paterson’s men also boast the fifth-best away record in the division having won nine of their 19 fixtures on the road thus far.
When the sides last met, a controversial late penalty converted by Matt Dennis saw Notts snatch a 1-1 draw at Meadow Lane.
Their most recent trip to Wetherby Road saw them triumph 3-1 in April 2025, following on from a defeat by the same score-line the season before.