Harrogate Town not getting downhearted ahead of Crawley Town clash

The Sulphurites welcome Crawley Town to Wetherby Road on Saturday, aiming to win their first league fixture since a 2-1 victory at Grimsby Town on October 20.

Weaver’s side were beaten 2-0 by Hull City in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night but the Harrogate manager was encouraged by his side’s creativity as they lost to opponents who have ambitions of playing Championship football next season.

Harrogate Town v Crawley Town: Can Reds combine a solid defensive display with their unstoppable forward line?

In their first-ever campaign in the Football League, it was never going to be plain sailing for Town.

“I remember the season before last before Christmas when we couldn’t hit a barn door and sometimes, you have to weather the storm,” said Weaver.

“That is just football and it has happened to bigger clubs than us right throughout the leagues and one thing we won’t do is lose heart or rip up the game plan because it has not been good enough over the last few weeks and we turned full-time because we were adamant about our identity and play.

“While the lads have got a disappointment, we have all got to learn to handle that to move on quickly.”

One benefit of the hectic fixture schedule is that it gives Harrogate plenty of chances to right the wrongs from recent weeks.

Crawley are two points above Harrogate in the League table and have won four of their last five games in all competitions, including a frantic 6-5 success over Torquay United in the FA Cup last weekend.

Weaver added: “The homework has started on Crawley and that is the one good thing about football and this season in particular, the games come thick and fast and I said to the lads in the changing room [after the Hull defeat] that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with us as a team.

“We just need to add that finishing touch. That is good, I have been in situations where there have been a lot more elements than that to put right.”