Two teams towards the wrong end of the League Two table will lock horns on New Year's Day, as Hartlepool United welcome Harrogate Town to Victoria Park.

Hartlepool are currently 21st in the table, boasting just 18 points from their opening 23 matches, while Harrogate are 19th, having picked up 22 points from their opening 22 games of the campaign.

Match preview

Hartlepool finished 17th in League Two last season upon their return from the National League, and it does appear that it could be another tough campaign for the club, as they bid to stay in the Football League.

Keith Curle's side had actually managed to put together back-to-back wins against Crawley Town and Rochdale ahead of their clash with Mansfield Town on Thursday, but they suffered a 2-1 home loss to the playoff hopefuls.

The result left Hartlepool in 21st position in the table, just three points ahead of 23rd-placed Rochdale, having played a game more than both of the sides currently in the relegation zone.

It is not quite time to hit the panic button, as there is still plenty of football to be played before the end of the campaign, but another defeat on Sunday would leave confidence low heading into a clash with Stoke City in the FA Cup on January 8.

Hartlepool have only faced Harrogate on five previous occasions, winning four times in the process, but they suffered a 2-1 loss in the reverse match between the two sides in League Two back in October.

Harrogate, meanwhile, are in their third straight season in League Two, having earned promotion from the National League during the 2019-20 campaign.

The North Yorkshire outfit have been 17th and 19th in their last two League Two seasons, so it is not too much of a surprise to see them currently down in 19th position in the table, boasting 22 points from their opening 22 games courtesy of a record of six wins, four draws and 12 defeats.

Harrogate's recent form in the league has been strong, winning three of their last four matches, with the victories coming over Mansfield, Rochdale and Grimsby Town.

However, Simon Weaver's side will enter this match off the back of a defeat, having lost 1-0 to Bradford City on Thursday, with Tyreik Wright netting the winner inside the first minute.

Harrogate have struggled on their travels in the league this season, collecting just seven points from 11 matches, but they will be taking on a Hartlepool side that has the second-worst home record, picking up only 10 points from their 11 matches in front of their own supporters.

Team News

Hartlepool boss Curle is expected to resist the temptation to make wholesale changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Mansfield last time out.

However, there could be an alteration on the right, with Christopher Missilou potentially coming in for Jamie Sterry, which was a substitution that occurred on Thursday.

Joshua Umerah is comfortably the team's leading goalscorer in the league this season with seven, and the 25-year-old will again feature at the tip of the attack for the home side.

As for Harrogate, head coach Weaver could make a couple of changes from the side that started the one-goal loss to Bradford on Thursday.

Josh Falkingham is a fitness doubt, having been replaced in the first half last time out, which is likely to open the door for Alexander Pattison to come into the XI.

Meanwhile, there could be an alteration on the right, with Max Wright potentially coming in for Samuel Folarin, but leading goalscorer Luke Armstrong will again lead the line, with the 26-year-old netting eight times in the league during the 2022-23 campaign.

Hartlepool United possible starting lineup:
Killip; Menayese, Shelton, Ferguson; Missilou, Sylla, Featherstone, Tumilty; Umerah, Cooke, Hamilton

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Jameson; Ramsay, Burrell, Mattock, Headley; Pattison, Austerfield; Wright, Thomson, Muldoon; Armstrong

We say: Hartlepool United 0-0 Harrogate Town

This might not be a classic, with both managers likely to be wary of losing rather than actively going in search of all the points. Hartlepool have been poor at home this season, but Harrogate have also struggled away, so we have had to settle on a goalless draw on New Year's Day.

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