After returning to winning ways in midweek, Town go in search of a fourth consecutive home win this weekend with Sutton United the visitors to The Envirovent Stadium.
George Thomson’s superb long-range effort secured all three points in the 1-0 win against Grimsby, a result that put Simon Weaver’s side firmly back in the mix for the playoff positions.
Our opponents
The 2023/24 season is the third consecutive season in League Two for Sutton, having earned promotion to the EFL a season after Town as National League champions.
In their first season at this level they missed out on the playoffs by just a single point and followed that up with a mid-table finish a season ago.
Experiencing a difficult season in 2023/24 they come into the game one point ahead of the drop zone, although second-bottom Colchester have two games in hand.
Prior to last weekends 3-1 defeat at home to leaders Stockport, the U’s had won four games in a row to haul themselves off the foot of the table and provide hope of avoiding relegation.
Away from home they have won four games and taken 16 points from 21 games, finding the net 20 times.
Previous meetings
Earlier this season two strikes after half-time from Jack Muldoon put Town 2-0 ahead and although Ryan Jackson netted a late consolation it wasn’t enough to prevent the first ever points being taken from the U’s at the fifth attempt.
Last season at The Envirovent Stadium David Ajiboye’s early goal proved the difference between the two sides and in 2021/22 Sutton secured a 2-0 on the final day of the season at the Envirovent Stadium with goals in each half from Craig Eastmond and Isaac Olaofe.
The man in charge
Steve Morrison is in charge, having replaced long-time boss Matt Gray at the start of January. Having previously coached at Cardiff City, he was in the hot seat at Isthmian Premier League side Hornchurch until his appointment at Sutton.
Morrison made over 600 appearances in a playing career spanning clubs such as Stevenage, Norwich, Leeds and most notably Millwall.
Ones to watch
Harry Smith has proved the standout performer in front of goal so far this season with the forward netting ten times and adding three assists since his summer move from Leyton Orient.
Charlie Lakin has scored six goals and four assists since arriving in January on loan from Burton Albion.
Former Carlisle striker Omari Patrick is closed behind in the goal tally having struck on five occasions and former Town loanee Josh Coley has seen plenty of action this season after joining on a permanent move from Exeter.
Craig Eastmond, Robert Milsom and Harry Beautyman are all familiar names stretching back to the two sides’ National League days.
History
The club were long time members of the Athenian and Isthmian Leagues before earning promotion to the Conference in 1989. They fell back into the Isthmian League in 1991, where they remained until being elected to the newly-formed Conference South in 2004.
They suffered a further relegation in 2008 before bouncing back in 2010/11, enduring a couple of near misses in the playoffs before winning the title in 2015/16.
In the National League, the club reached the playoffs in 2018 but were defeated at the semi-final stage, before earning a historic promotion a season later.
Before promotion to the Football League the club was most notable for its FA Cup exploits, having defeated recent-winners Coventry in 1988/89 in round three and then reached the fifth round in 2016/17, beating Leeds United before being knocked out by Arsenal.
Team news
Town boss Simon Weaver admitted his side were nursing slight knocks to both Levi Sutton and Derrick Abu.
Elsewhere, Liam Gibson continues his recovery while Lewis Thomas has returned to first-team training.
