Looking to regain a little pride, Sutton United return to Gander Green Lane on Saturday for a date with Mansfield Town.
A week ago, the Us suffered a devastating 8-0 defeat versus the League Two leaders Stockport County, as they remain bottom of the table, while the Stags are fourth after beating Crawley Town 3-1.
Match preview
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Numerous weeks of positive results came to a crashing halt in Greater Manchester last weekend, with Sutton United suffering their heaviest-ever EFL defeat.
That was the final nail in the coffin for Matt Gray, who was sacked following that defeat, having guided this club to their first-ever EFL promotion in 2020-21, being named National League Manager of the Year on that occasion.
It is now the responsibility of Jason Goodliffe to revive this side after such a crushing defeat, as the Yellows aim to avoid consecutive League Two losses for the first time since October.
Before their encounter with Stockport, the South Londoners appeared to be heading in the right direction, claiming points in their previous five domestic encounters, putting them five points below Colchester United in the battle to stave off relegation.
That is still their deficit heading into their 22nd matchday, while they enter this encounter unbeaten in five successive home matches in all competitions, defeating Horsham 2-0 in the second round of the FA Cup.
Throughout the 2023-24 campaign, their best performances have occurred at Gander Green Lane, with their only three League Two victories this season taking place at home, scoring 16 of their 26 domestic goals in the Borough of Sutton.
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Since the beginning of the League Two season, Mansfield Town have been among the most consistent sides in this competition.
Last Saturday, they won for the 10th time domestically this season, giving them 39 points after 20 matchdays, six more than they had at this point of the 2022-23 League Two campaign.
All season long, Nigel Clough's men have fought their way back into matches, losing the fewest League Two encounters this season (one), coming back to earn a result on seven occasions and gaining 11 points when conceding the opening goal.
Four times in League Two this season, the Stags faced a deficit after 45 minutes away from home, losing only one of those encounters (2-1 at Swindon Town).
Their consistency has them knocking on the door for an automatic promotion, just a single point behind Wrexham and Barrow in the race for a top-three position with a game in hand on each of them.
Saturday will only be the third time they travel to Gander Green Lane for a League Two fixture versus Sutton United, and their previous two visits there did not go well, with Mansfield losing both encounters by a combined score of 4-1.
Team News
Louis John missed another Sutton encounter through injury last weekend, with Sam Hart coming in to replace him against Stockport County.
That was one of three changes made to their starting 11 from matchday 20 to 21, with Dean Bouzanis, Dion Pereira and Aiden O'Brien also entering the fold in place of Steve Arnold, Craig Clay and Lee Angol.
Harry Smith leads them with seven domestic goals in 2023-24, while a brace from Pereira and one strike by Omari Patrick enabled them to advance into the third round of the FA Cup.
Louis Reed missed the previous encounter for Mansfield Town through suspension, with Aaron Lewis still out with a knock.
Four new faces were in their starting 11 from matchday 19 to 20, with Baily Cargill, Callum Johnson, Ollie Clarke and George Maris replacing Calum Macdonald, Reed, Lewis and Stephen Quinn.
Cargill put his team in front after just 12 minutes versus Crawley Town before Davis Keillor-Dunn notched his team-leading 12th of the domestic campaign, and Maris added an insurance marker.
Sutton United possible starting lineup:
Bouzanis; Jackson, Barden, Kizzi, Hart; Pereira, Clay, Beautyman, Coley; Patrick, Smith
Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Pym; Johnson, Flint, Cargill, Bowery; Brunt; Maris, Quinn; Keillor-Dunn; Oates, Akins
We say: Sutton United 1-2 Mansfield Town
A new manager in the dugout can often have an immediate impact, but in this case, we believe the character and consistency of Mansfield Town will take advantage of a side that may still be reeling psychologically from what transpired last weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
