Welcome back to Sutton United Talk Time on Podcast, the Sutton Podcast.
Mike is joined by Dan and Rory to look back on a much better week for Sutton United, with four points taken from two games following the recent three-match losing run.
We start with the 2-1 win over Eastleigh and the return of former Sutton manager Matt Gray to Gander Green Lane. There was plenty of warmth for the man who took Sutton into the Football League, but once the match started the focus quickly moved to a Sutton performance that Dan described as the most “joined-up” of the season so far. We also revisit the ongoing atmosphere debate after Chris Agutter’s recent comments, including the rather pointed “was that loud enough for you?” response from the Sutton support at full-time.
Then it is on to Halifax 1-1 Sutton United and one of the stranger endings we are likely to see this season. Sutton looked set to leave empty-handed after conceding deep into stoppage time, only for David Ogbonna to equalise almost immediately after the restart.
Was it a good point away from home, or two points dropped after Sutton controlled so much of the game? Dan and Rory discuss the lack of a clinical edge, the amount of territory Sutton enjoyed, wasted set pieces and whether the side deserved more from the afternoon.
We also look at the character shown in responding so quickly after conceding, Charlie Bell’s impact from the bench and whether Ogbonna has now done enough to force his way into the starting XI. There is also a wider discussion about the value of keeping a settled team after Chris Agutter named the same starting side for consecutive league matches for the first time this season.
With Sutton now on 16 points from nine games, we take a slightly wider look at the season so far. Was the run of three defeats simply a blip? Is this side beginning to look more like the team Agutter wants? And how much more is there to come as players build fitness, confidence and familiarity with each other?
Elsewhere in the episode, we hear the latest from Sutton United Women, get an update on upcoming Supporters Club coach travel, discuss the Surrey Senior Cup tie against Epsom & Ewell and look ahead to the next National League test against Forest Green Rovers.
There is also, naturally, time for the important stuff: Halifax away days, abandoned predictions, football myths and a strong contender for the worst toilets in football.
00:00 Welcome to the Sutton Podcast
02:45 Supporters Club news and away travel
05:12 Sutton United Women update
08:45 Matt Gray returns and the Eastleigh win
13:10 The Gander Green Lane atmosphere debate
17:25 Halifax: point gained or two dropped?
22:15 Character, resilience and Charlie Bell
27:30 David Ogbonna pushing for a start
32:40 The value of a settled starting XI
37:55 Finding the clinical edge
42:10 The Halifax goal and own-goal debate
46:30 Halifax away and the worst toilets in football
51:15 Sixteen points from nine games
56:20 Surrey Senior Cup: Epsom & Ewell
59:45 Looking ahead to Forest Green Rovers
1:02:13 Final thoughts
As always, we want to hear what you think.
Was Halifax a good point or a missed opportunity? Should David Ogbonna start the next league game? And after four points from Eastleigh and Halifax, are Sutton beginning to find their rhythm again?
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Sutton United Talk Time on Podcast, in association with Lucky Star Gin.
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