Harrogate Town AFC

Simon Weaver hopes his players will use the final two matches of the season to express themselves after our safety in the football league was secured on Tuesday night.

As the squad travel to face Mansfield on Saturday, the Town boss believes his side can cause problems on the front foot.

“I'd like to think the players will play with a bit of freedom. That pressure has been alleviated, the last few weeks have been intense. However, looking back at the track record over the last 10/15 games I think the players can be proud of themselves.

“The lads have stepped up to the plate and made their families proud. They have got greater freedom over the next two games to express themselves and to be dangerous.”

With the side boasting a strong record in previous meetings with The Stags, the 45-year-old insists his side will be doing all they can to keep that going.

“That has to be the aim for us all, we want to continue on the good vein of form which we have shown in recent weeks. We want to end on a high for both ourselves and the supporters.

“Over the last ten games our form has us in the top seven. We want to keep that going and hopefully break into the top five, if we can do that then we'll keep the spirits high around the place.

“It's pretty much a derby for us, it's meant a great deal to us in recent seasons and we haven't let ourselves down in those fixtures. We will be determined to carry on the good work from the other night.”

With Saturday's match being our final away match of the season, Weaver has praised the performances which his side have turned in while on the road.

“We have picked up some vital points away from home in recent months. We have stepped up to the plate and held our nerves so you have to give credit to the players for that.

“As players have emerged, I think this season we have played some very good football on the road.  We want to take that into the last away game of the season and hopefully the fans enjoy the trip.”

Despite a long journey to Newport in midweek, the Town boss insists his side will be ready for the physical battle once again.

“We got back at around four on Wednesday morning. The players have been given two days off after that so there can be no excuse. The second day was important for us because the lads needed to catch up on sleep.

“After the performance on Tuesday I'm sure the lads will be raring to go tomorrow in training. As staff we have watched a lot of Mansfield and we will be making sure that the players know what to expect going into that one.”

However, we will be without Warren Burrell for the remainder of the campaign. The 32-year-old underwent surgery on a hernia earlier today.

Speaking on the injury front, Weaver was pleased with the performance levels reached by Levi Sutton after his return on Tuesday night.

“Levi Sutton certainly proved his fitness when he came on to the pitch on Tuesday. He will be fighting for a starting spot especially with Warren now being out.”