Sutton United play host to Maidenhead United on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that they need to move back into the promotion hunt.
At a time when the home side sit in 13th position in the National League table, the visitors have recently slipped into the relegation zone.
Match preview
© Imago
Having dropped back down into the fifth tier, Sutton United would have perhaps expected to be mainstays in the upper echelons of this division.
Instead, just six wins have been posted in their 17 matches, Steve Morison left with a job on his hands to maintain any sort of charge for promotion.
Just two wins - away at lower-league Chertsey Town in the FA Cup and 20th-placed Braintree Town in the league - have been posted in seven matches, the other outings ending in defeat.
To their credit, Sutton pushed Birmingham City close in the FA Cup and only succumbed 2-1 at sixth-placed Rochdale last time out, yet it is wins on the board that are desperately required rather than commendable performances.
Sutton head into this fixture with one of the worst home records in the division, accumulating just eight points from their eight games at Gander Green Lane.
Opponents Maidenhead are another team that need to start turning displays into victories now that they find themselves in 21st place.
Alan Devonshire's recently went down 2-1 at home to League One outfit Crawley Town in the FA Cup, while they recently posted a 2-2 draw at home to high-flying Oldham Athletic.
On the flip side, Maidenhead were convincingly beaten 4-1 at home to Forest Green Rovers last time out, making it 15 goals conceded in their most recent six matches.
Five defeats have been posted in eight games on their travels, the most recent of those occurring away at Southend United at the start of October.
Team News
Hayden Muller could be brought into the Sutton XI as a replacement for Edwin Agbaje, who he replaced at half time versus Rochdale.
Ashley Nadesan is an option in the final third, yet Morison may opt against overly-tinkering with a side that almost took a point on their travels.
Meanwhile, Devonshire must decide how to react to Maidenhead being outclassed by Forest Green, the temptation being there to make several changes.
Owen Cochrane, Ruben Carvalho and Tristan Abrahams are all alternatives at full-back, on the flank or in attack.
Sutton United possible starting lineup:
Sims; Muller, Kirk, French, Waller; Barbrook, Odelusi, Coley; Harris, Davies, Vaz
Maidenhead United possible starting lineup:
Ross; Welch-Hayes, De Havilland, Lokko, Latty-Fairweather; Pettit, Ferdinand; Barratt, Ferguson, Smith; Abrahams
We say: Sutton United 2-1 Maidenhead United
With neither side in good form, we expect this contest to develop into somewhat of a battle of attrition. Nevertheless, Sutton still possess the greater quality in their squad, and that may come to the fore during the latter stages if the visitors have a chance of earning a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
