LATEST NEWS: In the upcoming League Two match between Swindon Town and Harrogate Town, Simon Weaver gives his team instructions to start paying attention and exhibit “more personality.”

In 2023–24, HARROGATE TOWN exceeded expectations.

Simon Weaver is now pressuring his side to behave with “more personality” and put up with increased anticipation.

Before a game was played in August, the Sulphurites were predicted to fight for survival, but instead they are in the running for the final play-off berth along with a number of other clubs.

However, after coming out of “under the radar” in early February, heartbreaking defeats to Walsall, Mansfield Town, and most recently Newport County have proven to be a sobering reality.

Weaver stated: “It’s new territory for a lot of players, challenging at the top end.” His team is scheduled to visit the County Ground on Saturday.

“Based on our performance thus far, I said at halftime (on Tuesday against Newport) that ‘it looks like we are bottle jobs here.'”

“You can release the brakes now since we’ve exceeded expectations and are nowhere near mid-table, in my opinion.

However, you have to roll with the punches and handle things when they come up, especially when things get tough or people start to notice our strengths. On the field, we must display more individuality.”

Lifting the handbrake comes with a warning, as Weaver bemoaned his team’s inability to learn from Tuesday’s 4-1 home loss to Newport, which was in some ways even more brutal than their 9-2 thrashing at Mansfield.

Weaver went on, “It was crucial that we gather ourselves because that was our worst (home) performance in several months. In football, it is possible.

“MK Dons only managed to complete three games, while Newport lost 3-0 and had the opportunity to win 12-0 over the weekend.

The main issue is presumably that we currently leave two v two situations at the back whenever we attack, and this isn’t due to poor coaching or poor presentation when we tell the player to “come round as a far full-back.”

“We recognized the following day that we had been severely punished in that Mansfield game and said, ‘It’s easy to remedy, stay with us and get that right – don’t start to get over-expansive against teams pressing you.'”

“The lesson was not learned, but you must build from shape. People need to listen and be coachable, and we need to improve.