Simon Rusk takes charge of his first home game as Stockport County manager on Tuesday night as we host Sutton United, looking to build on his impressive start at Woking and close in on the top of the table.
That 4-1 win in Surrey on Saturday saw County climb from fifth to third in the National League table, moving above Tuesday’s opponents in the process, with only goals scored separating the two teams.
A win under the floodlights at Edgeley Park would open up a gap between ourselves and the U’s, and could even see us leapfrog Hartlepool into second, should they fail to beat FC Halifax at the Shay.
Sutton meanwhile come into this game on a poor run of form, having won only one of their last five league games, culminating in a 1-0 defeat at Hartlepool at the weekend.
Although that run has seen them drop down to fourth, games in hand mean that they, like County, will know that a good run of form would suddenly see them breathing down the necks of Torquay at the top of the table.
Our Opponents:
After successive top ten finishes in 2018 and 2019, the U’s went in to last season with hopes of another play-off push to match their 3rd place finish in 2017/18 – but ultimately flattered to deceive.
Just three wins in their first 19 league games meant their season never really got going, and despite a strong run over the festive period, a final position of 14th represented their lowest finish since winning promotion to the National League in 2016.
After keeping faith in manager Matt Gray over the Summer, Sutton have retained the core group of last season’s squad, including star midfielder Harry Beautyman, who netted 15 goals for the U’s last season.
That loyalty is currently being rewarded, as the London side have made an impressive start to the new campaign. Five wins from their first six games saw the side come flying out of the traps, with only Notts County getting the better of them in that run.
Despite a slight dip in November, which culminated in a disappointing 4-0 defeat at Wrexham, Gray’s men bounced back impressively with victories over Halifax, Woking, and a 4-1 thumping of Solihull Moors, as they continue to keep in touch at the top of the table.
That defeat away at Hartlepool was a major set-back for them though, and they will be coming into the game at Edgeley Park looking to put that right and move back above County in the League table.
After two goalless draws between the sides last season, Tuesday’s encounter at Edgeley Park has all the makings to be much more entertaining – with plenty on the line in the race for promotion.
Match Stats:
- Those two 0-0 draws last season were the only competitive meetings between ourselves and Sutton, meaning we are still searching for our first ever goal against the U’s.
- John Rooney has either scored or registered an assist in each of his last four National League games, and is currently the joint second highest scorer in the National League with nine goals.
- Saturday’s win at Woking in Simon Rusk’s first game in charge was the best start made by any permanent Stockport County manager in over 88 years, since Andrew Wilson oversaw a 5-1 win over Darlington back in August 1932.
