Seventeenth-placed Sutton United take on relegation-battling Colchester United at Gander Green Lane this Saturday, with the South London club looking to stay clear themselves of the bottom of League Two.
Sutton have struggled to maintain form in recent weeks, having crashed out of both cup competitions and won just one of their last seven league games. Colchester, however, sit in 22nd place, sporting only three wins all season.
Match preview
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After achieving promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history in 2021, Sutton have established themselves in League Two after finishing in the top half last season.
Manager Matt Gray has masterminded this rise to prominence, but has no doubt been frustrated by his side's flagging performances this campaign, picking up only six wins all season thus far.
Gray may have taken some heart from the U's battling 1-1 draw last week to promotion-seeking Carlisle United; despite the disparity between the two sides this season, Sutton came back from the North-East unlucky not to have won the match.
Striker Ryan Edmondson took the lead for the home team with a free header - a product from a neatly-worked corner routine by Carlisle - but the Yellows equalised on the stroke of half time thanks to Will Randall following in his shot on the rebound.
Referee Lewis Smith may have been the only barrier separating Sutton from victory last week, having ruled out forward Donovan Wilson's potential winner for a foul in the build-up.
With Sutton netting just two goals in their last five matches though, tactical problems in build-up play may be at greater fault, and Gray will have to look for progress both in training and in the coming matchdays this winter.
Colchester's existence in the doldrums of League Two has been a source of suffering for the Essex club in recent years. Having stayed well clear of the fourth tier for 18 years, United have failed to make amends for their relegation in 2016, making the playoffs just once in the last six seasons.
Matt Bloomfield's side now sit in the relegation places of League Two, and chairman Robbie Cowling must now fear the worst for his club with the potential of losing their status in the Football League for the first time since 1991.
Bloomfield's first coaching position has greeted him with an enormous challenge; since being appointed at the end of September, United have picked up just two wins - a 2-1 victory at home against Harrogate Town in October and a decisive 3-0 triumph against Doncaster Rovers three weeks ago.
Doncaster dominated the ball in that game, but Colchester took advantage of their wastefulness in front of goal. An outstanding free kick from Alex Newby, followed by Samson Tovide's near-post belter and Luke Hannant's beautifully-curled finish proved triumphant for the home side that day.
Bloomfield, though, cannot rely on brilliant moments as a substitute for substantive progress. Newby scored yet another free kick last week, yet, credit to the midfielder notwithstanding, his strike was one of only two shots on target for Colchester that day.
The coach must see the attacking quality showed against Doncaster play out in a more structured way to overcome a defensively-sound Sutton team, as individual brilliance from talented players may not save Colchester from the drop.
Team News
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Sutton may welcome back Alistair Smith to the midfield this weekend, the former Mansfield man featuring as a substitute for his first appearance in two months last week.
However, striker Randall may be forced to miss the match on Saturday after being forced off on the 87th minute. Randall was on the wrong end of a challenge after trying to force a counter-attack in the final minutes of the game.
For Colchester, Bloomfield will start Kieran O'Hara in goal in place of the injured Sam Hornby, who picked up an ankle injury in November. O'Hara took his place between the sticks for the first time in two months, the ex-Manchester United graduate losing his place to Hornby after Bloomfield took charge.
Bloomfield may keep Kwesi Appiah, Dan Chesters and Tom Dallison in his first 11, having recalled them to the team alongside O'Hara for the match against Mansfield.
However, after his performance against Doncaster, Tovide will no doubt be aching to start in place of one of the forwards. Having been benched for the Mansfield game, attacking midfielder Noah Chilvers may seem justified to start in the number 10 role on Saturday.
Sutton United possible starting lineup:
Rose; Boldewijn, Kizzi, John, Milsom; Neufville, Eastmond, Smith, Kouassi; Bugiel, Wilson
Colchester United possible starting lineup:
O'Hara; Tchmadeu, Chambers, Smith, Dallison; Judge, Ashley; Chilvers, Newby; Tovide, Appiah
We say: Sutton United 1-1 Colchester United
With both sides focused very much on caution and limitation as a means to gain results, and with neither side being flushed for goals this season, it is hard to see past the likelihood of a draw this weekend.
Randall's potential absence will be a big loss for Sutton in attack, whilst Colchester may find a draw away from home to be worth grinding out for at Gander Green Lane.
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