Salford City v Harrogate Town: Time to break Ammies hoodoo

The two clubs have gone head-to-head during promotion battles in both the National League and National League North, with the big-spending Ammies winning all of the last five meetings between the teams.

City, who are owned by stars of Manchester United's 'Class of 92' including David Beckham and Gary Neville, did the double over Town in both 2017/18 and 2018/19 and also edged to a 1-0 success at Wetherby Road just last month.

Yet, while he concedes that his side always start as underdogs, the Harrogate boss doesn’t believe there has ever been much between the teams out on the pitch.

“I don’t think that there is a hoodoo when it comes to Salford, but if there is then it is up to us to break it,” Weaver said.

“The scenario there is completely different to the one at our club, we are always the underdogs when we play them, but we’ll go there on Friday and be plucky as normal and have a good go.

“Each and every one of the recent games against them has been close. We’ve always put up a good fight and I think we’ve usually played well. We just need to find a way to turn the performance into a result.

“There was nothing between the two sides when they came to our place last month and that’s usually been the case.

“On that occasion, a defensive lapse presented one of their strikers with a chance that he finished really well. If we want to go to the lion’s den and win this time then we need to be that cool in front of goal ourselves.”

Town travel to Greater Manchester 18th in the League Two standings, having won just one of their last four matches.

And, while Salford sit fifth and just four points shy of top spot with a game in hand on leaders Forest Green Rovers, their own recent form is just as patchy as that of their visitors.

The Ammies played out a goalless draw with fellow promotion-hopefuls Newport County on Saturday, having beaten struggling Scunthorpe United 1-0 in their previous outing.

The two games before that did however see them turned over by both Mansfield and Leyton Orient.

Harrogate are without a victory since their 2-1 triumph at Oldham Athletic on Boxing Day, though they have come out on top in two of their last three away fixtures.

The Sulphurites will however have to take on City minus the services of a host of players.

Versatile defender Warren Burrell is suspended following his midweek dismissal against Exeter City, while experienced midfielder Lloyd Kerry is also serving a ban.

Both of Town's on-loan left-backs Dan Jones and Mitchell Roberts are injured, as is striker Mark Beck and goalkeeper Joe Cracknell.

Influential centre-half Will Smith is said to be close to a return following a long-term hamstring problem, though Friday's game will come too soon for him.

Kick-off at the Peninsula Stadium on Friday night is at 7pm.