Sutton United’s gritty 1-0 win over Barrow brought welcomed relief after a tough start that has seen the injuries pile up for the Us so far this campaign.
The opening day draw at home to Newport saw Ben Goodliffe limp off with what proved to be a ruptured posterior cruciate ligament, leading to an expected spell on the sidelines of around six months.
It’s a massive blow to Matt Gray’s side with the 23-year-old centre-back not only last season’s Player of the Year but also chipping in with three goals across his 52 appearances last term.
Goodliffe’s subsequent replacement, Coby Rowe, then pulled up just before half-time in Sutton’s Carabao Cup defeat at MK Dons leaving them defensively short with just under a fortnight of the transfer window to go.
“Coby (Rowe) suffered a slight tweak to his hamstring meaning he will be out for seven to ten days and with Ben (Goodliffe) already out it’s looking light,” Matt Gray exclusively told London Football Scene.
“It has forced me to try and bring another body in – certainly up until January anyway.”
This season’s recurring theme of being unable to finish a half of football without an injury also continued against Barrow as Omar Bugiel was forced to make way for Kwame Thomas after just 42 minutes.
And new goalkeeper Jack Rose caused another injury scare after being deemed unfit to continue the final few minutes after feeling the full effects of Saturday’s scorching temperatures at Gander Green Lane.
After the game, Gray admitted another goalkeeper and forward are two other areas he wants more cover, saying: “I’ve said many times, Jack (Rose) and Brad (House) have done brilliantly, but I want more goalkeeping competition. I would also like another centre forward too.”
For the time being, Joe Kizzi has been forced to deputise at the heart of the defence – although that now leaves the full-back position thin with Sam Hart currently sidelined as well.
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Midfielder Will Randall, also injured on the opening day, is another concern although he is back in training and hopefully should be ready to figure away to Grimsby on Saturday if not at Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday evening.
While the club will try to bring in the much-needed reinforcements they need, it is important Gray’s patched-up side pick up as many points as they can under the current circumstances to give them as much chance of reaching the same dizzy heights as last season.
The Barrow win, Sutton’s first of the new season, was the perfect tonic as once again the Us could rely on their home form to get them over the line when it mattered most.
With two consecutive away games before a return to Gander Green Lane to face Mansfield Town, the ability to grind out results will be required before hopefully the cavalry can arrive in terms of returning players and new faces.