Fylde‘s battle to remain in the National League will continue on Tuesday evening, when they welcome Sutton United to Mill Farm.
The home side are currently 22nd in the National League table, level on points with 20th-placed Dagenham & Redbridge, while Sutton occupy 13th, nine points off the playoff positions entering the latter stages of the campaign.
Match preview
© Imago
Fylde will enter Tuesday’s clash off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Ebbsfleet United, while they were also beaten 2-0 by Braintree Town in their last home fixture in the National League on March 8.
It has been a tough campaign to date for the Coasters, with a record of 10 wins, six draws and 20 defeats from 36 matches bringing them 36 points, which has left them in 22nd spot in the table, level on points with 20th-placed Dagenham.
Fylde have been relatively strong at home this season, picking up 25 points from their 18 games in front of their own fans, but Sutton have been solid on their travels, claiming 24 points from 18 matches.
David Longwell will lead the team for the remainder of the season on an interim basis, and Tuesday’s fixture has become even bigger for the club following the 1-0 loss to the division’s basement side on Saturday.
© Imago
Sutton, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 3-0 home defeat to Halifax Town, with the result leaving them in 13th spot in the table, boasting a record of 12 wins, 11 draws and 13 defeats from 36 matches.
Steve Morison‘s side are nine points off the playoffs at this stage of proceedings, so it is doing to take some effort for them to move into the top seven, but it is not impossible considering the quality in their side.
The U’s were relegated from League Two last season, so they are bidding to bounce straight back into the Football League, but it has been a testing campaign for the club.
Sutton now have three games against teams towards the bottom of the division, taking Fylde, Dagenham and Boston United in quick succession before facing playoff hopefuls Southend United on April 5.
The Yellows are looking to do a league double over Fylde, having run out 2-0 winners in the reverse match earlier this season, but the last game between the two teams at Mill Farm ended in a goalless draw in December 2019.
Team News
© Imago
Fylde interim head coach Longwell will again name Nick Haughton in his starting side, and the hosts will be looking to the 30-year-old for inspiration on Tuesday night.
Haughton has been in outstanding form for the strugglers, finding the back of the net on 16 occasions in all competitions, while there should also be a spot in the team for Tyler Roberts.
Ashley Boatswain has one goal in nine appearances since his arrival at the club, and there will again be a spot through the middle for the 19-year-old.
As for Sutton, Will Davies has been their main source of goals this season, scoring 15 times in all competitions, and the Englishman will again lead the line for the Yellows on Tuesday night.
There are not expected to be any surprises in the Sutton side for this contest, with Lewis Simper set to feature in a wide area, while Siju Odelusi is also in line for another start.
The Yellows have not reported any fresh concerns from their clash with Halifax on Saturday, and head coach Morison is expected to resist the temptation to completely shuffle his pack, but Josh Coley could be introduced in a wide area.
Fylde possible starting lineup:
Winterbottom; Bardell, Davis, Whelan, Evans; Massey, Riley, Mitchell, Haughton; Roberts, Boatswain
Sutton United possible starting lineup:
Sims; French, Muller, Taylor, Topalloj; Sandat, Barbrook; Coley, Odelusi, Simper; Davies
We say: Fylde 1-2 Sutton United
Both sides will enter the match off the back of poor results, and we are expecting a tight match on Tuesday evening – it would not be a shock to see a draw, but we just have a feeling that Sutton will be able to navigate their way to an important three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
