Walsall boss Darrell Clarke not underestimating Harrogate Town threat

The Yorkshire club earned promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history last season, coming through the play-offs.

They had a good start to life in League Two with a 4-0 win over Southend United and Clarke is expecting a tough afternoon.

“I must say having managed League One, League Two and National League over quite a few games now, there really is not a lot of difference between the bottom half of League One, League Two to the top half of National League, it’s very fine lines," he said.

"Budgets can be very equal now in all those three divisions so we’ve got to make sure we treat Harrogate with the respect they deserve.

"Teams are renowned for getting promoted and holding their own in League Two so we certainly won’t be going there thinking because we’ve got a better history than Harrogate, we won’t be going there underestimating them.

"They’ve got a great manager who has done very well there. The club is owned by his dad so it’s a tight nit group and we’re going to have to bring our A-game to try and get the three points.

"It doesn’t matter about a club’s history. I drill this into the players – focus on winning that game. 90 minutes against Harrogate just try and win that game then we focus on the next one.”

In mid-week, Harrogate lost 3-0 away to West Brom in the Carabao Cup, but put in a solid showing against the Premier League side.

Having watched that game, Clarke was impressed with Simon Weaver's side.

“A couple of members of my staff went to the game and I watched the game on Sky and we were all of the same opinion – I thought they did themselves justice against a Premier League team," Clarke added.

"They’ve got good connections on the pitch but also like all clubs they have their weaknesses and we’ll be trying to exploit them and make sure that what they’re good at we limit them.”

As work continues at Harrogate's ground to meet EFL standards, they are ground-sharing with Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Despite the hosts actually playing an hour away from home, Clarke believes the lack of fans has extinguished any home advantage for all sides.

“It is strange but it’s not strange if you know what I mean because there’s no crowd in, you’re just playing on a green pitch with seats around it at the minute," he said.

"The momentum and the atmosphere is not in games now so I don’t think that is going to have an effect to be honest with you.

"Home and away in these circumstances doesn’t make that much difference so we will go there fully focused, fully professional and try to pick up the three points.”