League Leaders Next At Sutton
- Mark Bravery
- Mar 27, 2017
- 2 min read
After sending North Ferriby to the bottom of the National League table with Saturday's 5-1 thumping, Sutton next welcome the side at the opposite end of the division as Lincoln City are the visitors to Gander Green Lane this Tuesday evening (28 March).
Lincoln reclaimed top position on Saturday from Forest Green Rovers by beating them 3-1 at Sincil Bank. The Imps have spent most of this season in the top three, so Sutton's 3-1 victory at Lincoln back in August looks an even more impressive result now than it did then. Dan Wishart gave Sutton the lead with a free kick before a red card for Bradley Wood reduced the hosts to ten men, and although Sam Habergham equalised early in the second half, late goals from Jamie Collins and Roarie Deacon delivered Paul Doswell's first victory at this level of football. That is one of only two home defeats that Lincoln have suffered all season.
This week's game was postponed from 18 February as both Lincoln and Sutton were meeting Premier League opposition in the fifth round of the FA Cup, the Imps winning 1-0 at Burnley before Sutton lost 2-0 at home to Arsenal. The Gunners went on to beat Lincoln 5-0 in a quarter-final encounter at the Emirates Stadium.
Paul Doswell told SUFCTV that this match will be “two clubs coming together that have a lot of respect for each other, that have made the FA Cup glamorous”.
Saturday's emphatic win took Sutton up to 16th but is their only victory in their last six games. Lincoln have won just two of their last six, but that run includes their FA Cup exit and also defeat to York City in the semi-finals of the FA Trophy.
On the injury front Sutton will be without long-term absentees Ross Worner and Bradley Hudson-Odoi while defenders Dean Beckwith and Simon Downer are also likely to remain sidelined for this match.