Chris Agutter says his side are full of confidence ahead of tomorrow’s Enterprise National League clash with Morecambe.
The U’s will be looking to build on back-to-back positive away results, including a strong 2–0 win over Hartlepool United earlier this week, and return home with plenty to be pleased about three successive games on the road.
“We’re very confident,” said Agutter.
“We’re playing well. We’re building momentum again, which is great. We’ve played some really good football and we’re looking forward to the challenge of an improved Morecambe side.
“They’ve changed manager and their approach is very different. I think it’s fairly safe to say that has led to significant improvement.”
The Head Coach believes the recent performances have set strong benchmarks for the squad to keep building on, with a solid 2-2 draw at FC Halifax Town being followed by a win that will live long in the memory in the North-East.
Sutton now sit six points above the drop zone, with the recent run of results helping to strengthen belief within the squad, and they now welcome a Morecambe side who continue to battle for their own status in the fifth tier after a chaotic campaign so far.
“For 20 minutes at Yeovil it was not too clever, but other than that we’ve done pretty well and I think that’s reflected in the form guide,” he said.
“Against Halifax we were excellent from an attacking perspective and against Wealdstone our work off the ball was outstanding.
“The challenge going to Hartlepool was can we marry those two sides together. I don’t think we quite got to that level, but we were very good. If we can keep improving those benchmarks it gives us a hell of a chance to win more games.”
“The form guide doesn’t lie. We’ve gone well and with that positive run of results comes increased confidence.”
“But I’ve said a few times since we came in – we’re not a bottom-half team. We won’t be a million miles away from the right end of the table that we want to be at.”
Agutter went on to say that Morecambe will present a different challenge compared to the reverse fixture earlier in the season, with Jim Bentley returning to replace Ashvir Singh Johal at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium.
The Shrimps have enjoyed an upturn in form in recent weeks, with wins over Eastleigh and Wealdstone, along with a dramatic 4-4 draw with Gateshead helping to propel them to within touching distance of a shot at safety, while their last gasp defeat against York City even saw them go toe to toe with one of the division’s most dangerous sides.
“They’ve changed manager, changed approach and changed shape,” he explained.
“There is a lot of difference between the Morecambe we played down at their place and the Morecambe we’ll play tomorrow.
“They look a lot more robust and we know they’re going to put up one hell of a fight. We’ll have to produce a very good performance.”
Despite facing a side also battling near the bottom of the table, the boss insists league position alone cannot be taken at face value.
He added that the focus remains firmly on maintaining the standards shown in recent displays, with Sutton having the opportunity to extend the gap to as much as nine points come 5pm on Saturday.
“It’s us versus ourselves,” he said.
“We certainly haven’t cracked it by any stretch and we’re still where we are in the league, so we’re not resting on our laurels.
“Halifax on the ball was a benchmark for us and Wealdstone off the ball was a benchmark. If we can match those levels consistently and improve them, teams are going to have to be very good to beat us.”
“Sometimes league positions can lead you down the wrong path if you read too much into them. If you look at our goal difference and the amount of draws we’ve had, that’s been the problem. Turn a few of those draws into wins and we’re pushing for the playoffs.”
