This evening at the STōK Cae Ras, Phil Parkinson’s team will be looking to keep their winning streak going as they take on Sutton United, who are currently at the bottom of the table.
They drew 1-1 on Saturday at the University of Bradford Stadium, with Adam Wilson’s goal five minutes from time canceling out Paul Mullin’s header. The game tonight is sandwiched between two away trips: this weekend is scheduled as a visit to Notts County. Parkinson intimated that there might be changes to the team for this evening’s match, highlighting the even greater significance that squad depth has due to the hectic game schedule. It’s going to be crucial, and we’re hoping to maybe rotate the team around in a few spots, he stated.
“Everyone was evaluated this morning [on Monday], and they participated in a light workout, similar to what happens the day before a game. “Organization is key from Saturday to Tuesday, but we also need to make sure the boys get as much sleep as possible so we can perform at our best.” With three victories and three draws in their last six games in all competitions, the Red Dragons are undefeated. The most notable outcomes were a hard-fought point at both Bradford and Mansfield Town, as well as a 1-0 triumph over Crawley Town with ten men. This evening offers a distinct type of challenge, as the guests are eager to secure their second victory in thirteen games.
Parkinson thinks it’s critical that the boys keep up their performance on the tests even though the challenge has changed. It will be a huge task for us, so it’s critical that we continue our run, he stated. “We have discussed with the boys how we want to improve our home games and what we need to do to win tomorrow night” (speaking on Monday). “The guys are doing well, and the camp has a pleasant vibe.” When you give up late and lose ground, you are always a little disappointed. “I believe they need to have a lot of faith to enter a situation like that and come out strong as a unit.” The US ranks 24th.
Joel Senior’s 91st-minute goal put an end to United, but Matt Gray’s team will carry the momentum from their performance into tonight’s match.
Gray guided Sutton to the National League pennant for 2020–2021 and the EFL Trophy final the following season; Parkinson thinks this will be a battle like none they’ve encountered previously. “I watched their game on Saturday, and they were unfortunate to lose it in the closing minutes,” he remarked. It will be crucial for us to deal with them because they are a large, powerful team with a tremendous physicality.
“It will be similar to playing against a team like Bromley, who came to town last year and were powerful and aggressive. Our players are more than capable of handling that.