Harrogate Town boss wary of Crawley Town's potential offensive threat and quality

The Sulphurites head to the People’s Pension Stadium with renewed confidence having picked up two points against Salford City and Exeter, and battling their way to a well-earned victory over Newport County on Saturday. Harrogate's manager, Simon Weaver, praised his side's recent upturn in form, which has seen the North Yorkshire club move nine points above their relegation zone.

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“It was an uplighting performance. Full of energy”, explains Weaver. “Wide-men drove at the full-backs [and] the front pair were a handful all-day. I think we thoroughly deserved the win”.

On Saturday afternoon, the Reds face a gruelling battle against a side managed by a former-centre-half. Crawley’s opponents, who are playing in the Football League for the first-time in their 107 year history, are known for their physicality.

“I just want eleven competitors. It’s League Two, you try and win the first ball and the second ball, especially in the difficult weather conditions at the moment - it’s difficult to play the perfect game", Weaver states. “You have to mix your game up. Playing into the front man and with that you need the players to be strong enough.

“I like our players to be competitive”.

Even after the Reds subdued performance on Tuesday night, Weaver is wary of Crawley's potential offensive threat. “We can’t take anything for granted”, he insists. “With John Yems and Lee Bradbury there, I expect they’ll come out of the blocks. They got a frustrating draw [against Orient, but…] if I take my foot off the gas, that’ll be my biggest mistake.

“I watched them when they thrashed a strong Leeds United.

"They’ve got quality in Nadesan, Nichols, Hessenthaler, Matthews, the list goes on.”

Whilst, Harrogate striker, Jack Muldoon, has hit 11 league goals this season, Saturday’s action could see a debut for Harrogate’s new-signing Josh Andrews.

Weaver praised the quality of the new striker, who signed on loan from Birmingham City on deadline day. “We’ve only had him in one session so far”, Weaver states.

“His main assets are his touch and his obvious physical stature. We want him between the posts”.

Sure enough, Harrogate, unlike Crawley, had no mid-week game, but the club had their own issues ahead of Saturday’s encounter. “We’ve had Tuesday and Wednesday off because of the snow up here”, explains Weaver. “But there should be no excuses from our part. We start with a point and graft.

“Any point away from home is useful, especially after a home win.”

This Saturday, Crawley Town welcome Harrogate Town to the People's Pension Stadium (3pm kick-off). Whilst, both sides are fighting at different ends of the table, the Reds can't underestimate the quality of their opposition.