Tranmere Test For Sutton
- Mark Bravery
- Aug 10, 2017
- 2 min read
Sutton United's testing start to their league season gets even tougher this Saturday (12 August) with an away game at title favourites Tranmere Rovers.
Daunting though a trip to Prenton Park might seem, Sutton can take heart from their two performances last season against the Merseyside club. They beat Rovers 1-0 at home, and in the away game in April fought back from 2-0 down to achieve parity through goals from Jack Jebb and Pape Gueye, only to concede a controversial late winner as what looked a clear foul on Craig Eastmond in the build-up went unpunished.
Tranmere went on to finish second in the table, losing to Forest Green Rovers in May's play-off final. They are now starting their third National League season following their relegation from the Football League in 2015.
Tranmere drew their opening game of this season 0-0 at Torquay and then beat Woking 3-1 at home. Forward James Norwood was sent off in the first match and will miss Saturday's game through suspension. But in Andy Cook, Connor Jennings, and Andy Mangan, plus James Alabi who has recently joined from Chester, Rovers will still possess a wealth of attacking talent. Experienced defender Steve McNulty was also sent off at Torquay, but his was only a one-match suspension so he will be available to face Sutton.
United stand eighth in the embryonic table after a win and a defeat in their first two games. Tranmere are fourth.
Sutton manager Paul Doswell is likely still to be missing several players who are recovering from injury or surgery, including defenders Kevin Amankwaah (hip) and Simon Downer (knee), midfielder Simon Walton (knee) and striker Adam Coombes (ankle).
Next Tuesday (15th) Sutton are home to Macclesfield Town. Last August United beat the Cheshire club 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Bedsente Gomis and Ross Stearn, with the visitors' captain Andy Halls sent off. That result moved United up to third in the table, the highest position they would achieve all season. The return fixture, on the final day of the season, ended goalless.
Macclesfield defender George Pilkington and winger Elliott Durrell are both doubtful for next week's game after being forced off with injuries during Tuesday evening's 1-1 draw at home to Hartlepool. The Silkmen won their opening game 1-0 at Wrexham.