We return to Blundell Park tonight to take on Harrogate Town in Sky Bet League Two as Paul Hurst’s men look to build on Saturday’s victory at Northampton.
That match was the Mariners’ first league win in three matches and, coming away to the fourth-placed Cobblers, will no doubt do the squad’s confidence a world of good.
This evening’s match is another big one with Town taking on a team beneath them in the league table where victory is vital.
Team News
Off the back of Saturday’s win, Town fans were pleased to able to welcome back long-term absentee Ryan Taylor from the bench.
It looked as though he was set to come on before Luke Waterfall’s equaliser before sitting back down and coming on after Anthony Glennon’s winner. His return comes at a good time for Town, with games coming thick and first, though Hurst did urge caution post-match when suggesting that the striker needs time to get up to full fitness.
Debutant Owen Gallacher, having started on the left, came off around the hour mark on Saturday with what Hurst suggested in his interview could have been cramp.
Kieran Green, Jordan Cropper and Otis Khan continue to be absent.
Harrogate Town
The Sulphurites currently find themselves in 21st place in the League Two table and come into the match off the back losing a two-goal advantage on Saturday against Crewe Alexandra with the Railwaymen picking up a 2-2 draw in North Yorkshire.
Now in their second-ever campaign in the EFL, Harrogate have struggled to improve on their 19th-placed finish last term and have been hovering above the relegation zone for most of the season.
Manager Simon Weaver is currently the longest serving manager in the Football League having taken over at Harrogate in May 2009 and has overseen a rise from the Nartional League North to League Two over that time.
Forward Luke Armstrong is currently one of the visitors’ ones to watch and is their current top scorer with ten goals to his name, including two in the Sulphurites’ 3-2 Boxing Day victory over the Mariners.
Previous Meetings
Town have only faced tonight’s visitors six times in the past with each team winning three of those matches. The last of them came on Boxing Day when Harrogate defeated the Mariners 3-2 at the EnviroVent Stadium.
Referee
Tom Nield will be the official in the middle tonight. He last refereed a Mariners match in May 2021 when Cambridge United won 3-0 at the Abbey Stadium in League Two.
He will be assisted by David Avent and Hristo Karaivanov.
Coverage
Tonight’s match is available for UK and overseas viewers to watch live on Mariners TV! Supporters can purchase match passes to take in all the action for just £10 HERE.
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