Winless in their last four, only scoring once in the process and having an ever increasing injury list, Matt Gray is undoubtedly experiencing his toughest spell as Sutton United manager.
The defeat to Tranmere Rovers was not only an uncharacteristic second home defeat on the spin but also saw no less than a further three players pick up knocks.
Defender Louis John was forced off after only seven minutes with his replacement, Aaron Pierre having to be withdrawn ten minutes later following a challenge.
Therefore, it was little surprise just two minutes later makeshift centre-back Joe Kizzi, still trying to get his bearings alongside Coby Rowe, subsequently gave away a penalty which Kane Hemmings duly converted to open the scoring.
Gray bemoaned the Us injury woes post-match, admitting continued enforced in-game changes does little for his side’s consistency but still believes Gander Green Lane is very much a fortress despite the defeat and the previous one against Salford City.
Either way, these home defeats mean Sutton need to earn points elsewhere – putting more focus on their poor away form as, similar to last season, they struggle to make things click on the road.
After just six away games, the Us sit bottom of the table for points on the road – collecting a solitary point at Grimsby Town and with a tricky trip to AFC Wimbledon on the horizon.
“We need to get this first away win on the board. We’ve had many great performances,” Gray exclusively told London Football Scene.
“Stevenage is the only away game where we did not deserve anything. That is a fact.”
A continued theme of these away day defeats are late goals, with Sutton dropping two points against Gillingham and Swindon through injury time winners and, more frustratingly conceding two in stoppage time against Doncaster to hand their rivals victory.
Furthermore, this worrying trend seems to have spilled over to Sutton’s home form as two late goals cost them points against Salford following Donovan Wilson’s red card.
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A lack of game management to see out a result out could suggest Football League naivety is finally catching up with Sutton after a whirlwind inaugural season – something Gray vehemently denies.
“This is nothing to do with infrastructure, it’s about major injuries,” Gray said.
“It’s a little storm which we have no other choice but to roll our sleeves up and get through.”
Saturday’s clash at Plough Lane, in front of a sold-out away support, would be the perfect time to claim an away result against a Wimbledon side who have also had a slow start to their campaign.
The encounter will be seen as a must win for both sides but with Sutton making their shortest away trip of the season, hopefully they can finally get a result on the road to ride out the current storm.
Image of Josh Neufville provided with thanks to Paul Loughlin/Sutton United FC.