Sutton Look For Home Progress In The Trophy
- Mark Bravery
- Jan 23, 2017
- 2 min read
Games are coming thick and fast for Sutton United these days and this Tuesday (24th January) they are home to Ryman League side Worthing in the replay of their FA Trophy tie.
The first match in West Sussex ended 2-2 the Saturday before last, with Sutton's goals coming from Roarie Deacon and Adam May. The winners of the rematch will be at home to Sutton's National League rivals Boreham Wood in the third round on Saturday 4 February.
Worthing experienced their first defeat in fourteen games on Saturday as they lost 3-1 at home to Leiston in the league, their consolation goal being scored by former Sutton player Sam Rents.
Sutton manager Paul Doswell has a selection headache for this game. His captain Jamie Collins will be missing as he completes a two-match suspension for ten accumulated yellow cards, while fellow defender Louis John is cup-tied in this competition. On the fitness front, left back Ben Jefford has been sidelined since New Year's Day and winger Jeffrey Monakana damaged a hamstring in training last week. Then, in Saturday's draw with Eastleigh, midfielder Nicky Bailey suffered a recurrence of his back problem and winger Bradley Hudson-Odoi picked up a calf injury.
With numbers so short, Doswell may be forced to risk some of his key players in this game ahead of next Sunday's big FA Cup encounter with Leeds United. Deacon's yellow card on Saturday means he joins Bailey, Craig Eastmond and Simon Downer on nine for the season; a tenth for any against Worthing would trigger a two-match ban that would start with the Leeds match.
All this means that Craig Dundas and Craig McAllister, who are both cup-tied for Leeds, can expect to play.
The replay has to be decided on the night, so if the score is level after ninety minutes there would be thirty minutes extra time and, if that fails to separate the sides, a penalty shoot-out.