MATCH PREVIEW: Swindon v Harrogate Town

Jody Morris will be looking to earn his first win at the County Ground as a struggling Harrogate Town team visit SN1 this weekend. Total Sport’s Joe Acklam previews the League Two clash.

Swindon earned their first win under Morris at Salford City last Saturday, Town came back from conceding an early goal to claim a 2-1 win courtesy of Jacob Wakeling’s wondergoal and an own goal from Elliot Watt.

However, to get that first home win of the Morris-era, Swindon will have to deal with the absence of Saidou Khan due to him being given a retroactive five-match ban after he was involved in an on-pitch tussle with Matty Lund.

Morris said: “If someone has stamped on you, you would react to help get them off. But the fact that his hand is up by the side of Matthew Lund’s face, the FA say it’s violent conduct.

“I think it’s fair to say there is violent conduct from the other side multiple times in the build-up, and nothing at all has happened.

“For me, it’s scandalous that Saidou [Khan] is the only one getting banned.

“I am really disappointed that we are going to miss him for the amount of time that we are going to miss him for.

“There is no doubt about it, I think he is one of the most important members of the group, he is a driving force for us in the engine room and he is pivotal to what we want to do.

“The fact that Frazer [Blake-Tracy] is missing as well, that is two really important players out for a long spell.

“But we have to get on with it and it is one of those things that could maybe give up opportunities and it might mean that someone steps up to the plate, because if we are going to get good results then they are going to have to.”

The Sulphurites visit the County Ground on a troubling run, sat 20th in the table and with one win in their last ten matches.

Morris said: “They are obviously not going through a great spell at the moment, but I would argue nor are we.

“But also, anyone coming to the County Ground we should be looking to attack and try and put on the back foot straight away.

“We need to be prepared for what they are going to bring, but I am ultimately focused on what we are going to be doing, because we need to make improvements ourselves to give us the best chance of winning.

“Regardless of who we are playing, the challenges will be difficult, but the best chance we have of beating the different types of opposition is us raising our game.”

Last season was the first time Swindon had played Harrogate in their history, and in the three fixtures between the two clubs each have won one and there has been one draw.

Town were shellshocked on the opening day of this season when Ben Gladwin missed a penalty in a 3-0 loss at the EnviroVent Stadium.