Crucial League Two Encounter: Harrogate Town and Crawley Town Seek Revival

Setting the Stage

The Exercise Stadium hosts a crucial League Two clash this Saturday afternoon as Harrogate Town welcome struggling Crawley Town, with both teams eyeing crucial points. The Sulphurites are seeking their first win in three games, while the Red Devils are still hunting for their first victory of the campaign.

Current Form and Standings

Harrogate Town currently sit 14th in the table with eight points, just three points behind seventh-placed MK Dons, following their season-opening 1-0 victory against Bristol Rovers. However, they enter this match on the back of consecutive defeats, most recently suffering a 2-0 loss at Bromley, which marked their first goalless game of the 2025-26 season.

Crawley Town’s struggles are evident in their attacking output, having scored just three goals this term while conceding eleven – a defensive record only worse than the two teams below them in the table.

Team Updates

Harrogate will be missing several key players due to international duties, including wide man Stephen Duke-McKenna, attacker Reece Smith, and loanee left-back Jacob Slater. Conor McAleny is expected to start on the left flank, with Mason Bennett playing behind striker Shawn McCoulsky, and Warren Burrell taking the left-back position.

Historical Context

The head-to-head record between these teams currently stands at four wins for Crawley Town, one win for Harrogate Town, and three draws. The visitors will be looking to maintain their impressive unbeaten record in North Yorkshire, having won their last three encounters across all venues.

Significance

Currently positioned 22nd in the table with just two points, Crawley Town could potentially climb as high as 19th with a victory, leapfrogging several teams including Accrington Stanley, Newport County, and Oldham Athletic. Despite losing five of their last six away games, they showed promising signs in their recent performance against Chesterfield.