Weaver urges Harrogate to transfer away form to own backyard

Travel-happy Harrogate boss Simon Weaver wants his side to transfer their away form to their own backyard after racking up another road win with a 1-0 League Two victory at Walsall.

George Thomson’s fifth goal of the season, a low strike from 20 yards that Owen Evans could only help into the bottom corner, helped Harrogate to a fifth-straight away win in all competitions.

It was also the first time Harrogate – who leapfrogged Walsall up to 14th in the table – have won four in a row away from home since being promoted into the Football League in 2020.

“It’s no mean feat and we are really pleased – it’s built on just trying to be solid first and foremost, nothing complicated. The shape has been good to us and it’s paid off,” Weaver said.

“Now we have to take this level of performance back home.

“We’ve been here before and we haven’t taken that momentum of a great away win into the next home game – hopefully that’s the first step towards that today.

“We’re going to much bigger grounds than ours and we know there will be a sense of frustration around the place if we can keep it at zero in terms of not conceding goals.

“They threw a lot of balls into our box and we gave away too many free-kicks but we dealt with them because the rearguard was superb.

“Anyone would be lying as managers if you don’t look at the table. We would have valued a point but three points makes a big difference to the complexion of the league.”

Walsall dropped to 17th after a defeat that was down to ill fortune and poor finishing.

Donervon Daniels and Brandon Comley wasted golden chances, Isaac Hutchinson and Tom Knowles were denied by the woodwork, and Liam Gordon by Matty Foulds’ goal-line clearance.

“It’s very difficult to be too disappointed because I thought we played extremely well and dominated,” said boss Mat Sadler.

“I think we are very quick in football to jump to the too-high or too-low state of mind. If you’re not 4-0 up then there’s something wrong but the way that we’re playing is what I look at.

“When we play well, I’ll let them know we’ve played well and we played well today. But of course you need that ruthless edge of winning the game, making sure you don’t lose the game.

“I thought we were on top for large spells – we had 11 corners which shows the territory and dominance, we had fantastic opportunities and openings.

“We’ve hit the post twice, had loads of shots, 24 shots, so we quite clearly weren’t clinical enough on the day but the performance was good and that’s what I look at.”