Walsall FC v Harrogate Town: No panic for out-of-form Sulphurites, but result is needed

Harrogate Town travel to Walsall on Good Friday “desperate for a result”, but Simon Weaver insists that there is no cause for concern despite his side’s recent poor run.
Harrogate Town drew 2-2 with Walsall the last time the sides met. Pictures: Matt KirkhamHarrogate Town drew 2-2 with Walsall the last time the sides met. Pictures: Matt Kirkham
Harrogate Town drew 2-2 with Walsall the last time the sides met. Pictures: Matt Kirkham

The Sulphurites have lost four of their last five matches in League Two and visit the Bescot Stadium aiming to avoid what would be a fourth consecutive defeat.

Yet, having seen his team beaten by a one-goal margin on 14 occasions during their maiden season in the EFL, Weaver doesn’t feel that Town are going too far wrong and believes they just need to discover some consistency.

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“We are desperate for a positive result at Walsall, but having said that, it’s not like anyone is really down in the dumps,” he said.

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

“It’s not like that by any stretch and that’s because of the good run we had before this blip.

“It’s been very topsy-turvy hasn’t it? There have been good spells, times when we have looked red-hot, and also bad spells. It’s consistency that has been lacking.

“There have been an awful lot of close games as well. A lot of 1-0 scorelines that have gone against us that could easily have gone in our favour – and vice versa, to be fair.

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“From here, it’s about what we can do to make sure we end up on the right side of those fine margins more often. How do we turn those narrow defeats into a point, or even win some of those games?”

So, how can Town improve in their bid for consistency?

Weaver added: “We know that we have to be braver on the ball. Even when the pitches are difficult, we have to be more confident and back ourselves.

“We also have to be more controlled in our work and learn how to make it count when we are top and figure out how to kill teams off in those situations.”

Walsall head into Friday’s contest winless in 12 games.

Managed by former Harrogate player Brian Dutton, the 20th-placed Saddlers have lost six and drawn six since beating Port Vale 3-1 on January 23.

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They are on a four-match losing run at home, having failed take maximum points at the Bescot in any of their previous eight attempts.

The previous meeting between the two sides ended in a 2-2 draw at the Keepmoat Stadium back in September. Aaron Martin and Jack Muldoon were the men on target for Town.