Harrogate's home form has similar feel to Dons' early-season strife
The Harrogate Town boss is facing similar issues to the ones MK Dons faced earlier this term
Harrogate Town and MK Dons have shared a similar trait at times this season - a distinct lack of home form.
For Paul Warne’s side, they struggled in the early part of the season before finding their feet, while Simon Weaver’s men have continued that struggle on home soil, picking up just two wins all term.
Dons head to the Exercise Stadium on Saturday for only the third time, but have hit the net five times in each of their previous visits.
Looking into why their form has been off on familiar grounds while the majority of their points have been picked up on the road, Weaver said: “We’ve looked at it as staff to see if there is anything we do differently away that we don’t do at home and we’ve ascertained there probably are one or two things we do. You want the home team to drive forward, but we’ve gained some gritty points away by hanging on in there sometimes.
“We’ve got to make sure we don’t switch off because we’re so keen to impress at home that we can leave ourselves open.”
While promotion is the clear ambition for Dons, keeping their head above the drop zone is the motivation for Weaver’s side. Last week’s point against Cheltenham saw them climb out of the bottom two at the expense of Bristol Rovers, with Weaver saying from a psychological point of view, it helps massively heading into Christmas.
“It’s our aim to be outside of that bottom two, and it hurts you to be in there, even as just a visual. We know we are third from bottom on goal difference, but whether it’s goal difference or a point, we need to end up there. We’re in a fight with other teams, every game is a cup final as a result of how tight it is.
“This week has been a good mood. I’m right behind the players. If the lads equip themselves as they have in the last three away games we’ll be ok. Of course we have to do it at home now. We’re in good spirits, it’s important to keep up that atmosphere.
“The lads are on it, and I feel like the confidence we’ve gained in the away games will show their benefits.”
On the prospect of facing MK Dons, he added: “It will be a tough challenge, they’re well equipped to do well. Paul and Richie are good guys, they’ve brought them in with the intention of having a good season, and I’m sure they will.
“We’ve got to make it hard for them, respect what they’re about when they’re flowing, and try to come up with a good game plan to be competitive.”