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10
Jan
'We need character and resilience': Harrogate Town manager looks ahead to Leeds clash
Simon Weaver says Harrogate Town will need to show character and resilience as they head into their FA Cup clash against Leeds United.
Town will make the short trip down the A61 to Elland Road to face the Whites after reaching the third round of the competition.
More than 4,000 Harrogate supporters will attend the match in a sold-out away end. The game will also be streamed live on BBC iPlayer.
Weaver said his side will have to show resilience going into the tie, which is expected to see a bumper crowd at Elland Road.
He said:
It’s a different proposition playing in front of 37,000 people. We are not familiar with that in League Two or in the history of Harrogate Town. But it makes it an extra special occasion.
I’m sure the lads won’t need a warm-up. I'm sure there will be adrenaline running through the veins of every single one of us. It’s a challenge, but it’s an occasion to make sure it’s a memorable one.
The match represents the first time Harrogate have played Leeds in a competitive match. United beat Town 3-0 in a pre-season friendly at the Exercise Stadium in July.
Weaver, who has managed Town in a National League play-off final and an FA Trophy final, said the game was the “icing on the cake” as far as the club’s progress goes.
He said:
It’s superb and it’s so far removed from where we were. It gives me enormous pride that progression.
Town will go into the match without Matty Foulds, Ellis Taylor and Liam Gibson. James Moorby, Eno Nto and Josh Falkingham, who previously played for Leeds, will also miss the game.
'Not the biggest highlight'
Meanwhile, United go into the match top of the EFL Championship and in contention for promotion to the Premier League.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke said in his pre-match press conference that Patrick Bamford and top scorer Joel Piroe will miss tomorrow’s clash with injuries.
Defender Max Wober could also sit out the game with a knee injury.
Daniel Farke, Leeds United manager.
Farke said he will rotate his side for the fixture but still expects his side to show enough to get through to the fourth round.
He said:
In cup competitions everything is always possible. We see many, many upsets and many, many surprising results and for that you can never take it for granted that the favourite always goes through to the next round.
We have to be respectful. We will perhaps rotate a bit more than we would do for a league game. But one thing is for sure, we want to go through into the next round and this is what we need to show in a home game in front of our excited supporters.
It’s a bit difficult because for them it’s probably the game of the season and they will be quite excited, and for us it’s a bit like, let’s be honest, not the biggest highlight game. But, nevertheless, it’s another important game and we want to go through into the next round.
For those not attending the match tomorrow, the Stray Ferret has put together a guide of pubs which will be showing the big game. You can find it here.
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