By Jack Cousin
Halifax Town take on Sutton United at the Knights Community Stadium in what will be the first ever game between the two sides.
The Shaymen travel seeking their first win in eight games. United meanwhile have risen to fourth in the National League thanks to an unbeaten run stretching back eight league games.
Town goalkeeper Sam Johnson spoke to the club website about the Sutton game. He said: “I think it will a good test for the defence. Sutton United are going to be a pretty good side, they are a team who have scored quite a lot of goals, so we are going to have to soak up quite a lot of pressure throughout the game.”
Halifax will be without midfielder and joint top scorer Matty Kosylo, who has a medial ligament injury. Recent loan signings Harry Middleton and Josh Clackstone though should be fit to make their second appearances for the club.
Sutton United will have a new face in their side after manager Paul Doswell tweeted that a new signing was set to be announced later this evening. He would join new arrivals Tom Bolarinwa and John Egan who made their debuts in the 2-0 win at Solihull Moors last time out.
New signing announced this evening and other loan news.
Our supporters will be welcoming one of their favourite players back.
Return of ……— Paul Doswell (@DoswellPaul) November 17, 2017
The home side will be without Craig Eastmond while Nicky Bailey remains a doubt. Influential midfielder Simon Walton though, is available for selection. Craig Dundas, who has made over 450 appearances for the club and is their current top scorer this campaign, is set to start up front.
Sutton nearly toppled League Two Cambridge United in the FA Cup earlier this month. They dominated the game having 63 per cent of the possession but eventually lost out to Jabo Ibehre’s first half goal.
Factfile: Halifax have won only two of their nine away league games this campaign and both of those came in the first two months of the season. Town sat second in the league during September after a good run of results but their recent form has seen them slip to 16th. Sutton United could go joint top with a win while Halifax could sink as low as 18th with a defeat.