Tamworth welcome Sutton United to The Lamb Ground on Wednesday night looking to respond to a heavy weekend defeat, while the visitors arrive unbeaten in their last three National League matches.
The Lambs suffered a 5-1 defeat at Aldershot Town on Saturday, with Ben Acquaye’s stoppage-time goal providing their only consolation. It was Tamworth’s third defeat in four league matches, although that sequence also includes a 2-1 home victory over Wealdstone.
Tamworth have taken four points from their last five National League games, drawing 2-2 with Boston United before successive 3-1 defeats against Harrogate Town and Southend United. They responded by beating Wealdstone but were unable to build on that result at Aldershot.
Goals have not generally been the problem for Andy Peaks’ side. Tamworth have scored in all ten of their National League matches this season, finding the net 17 times. At the other end, however, their 28 goals conceded give them the division’s poorest defensive record heading into Wednesday night’s fixtures.
Sutton arrive in Staffordshire on a three-match unbeaten run. Chris Agutter’s side beat Eastleigh 2-1 before drawing 1-1 at FC Halifax Town and producing a dramatic comeback to earn a 3-3 draw with Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.
The U’s trailed Forest Green 2-0 early in the second half and then 3-1 with less than 20 minutes remaining, but goals from Brandon Njoku and Charlie Carter kept them in the contest before Temi Babalola struck a 93rd-minute equaliser. The result moved Sutton onto 17 points from their opening ten matches.
Sutton’s recent improvement follows a difficult spell in which they suffered three consecutive league defeats without scoring against Wealdstone, Barrow and Scunthorpe United. They have responded by taking five points from their subsequent three games and scoring six times.
The clubs met twice in the National League last season. Tamworth won an entertaining first meeting 3-2 at Sutton in September, with Joe Riley’s penalty and goals from Tyler Roberts and Manny Duku securing the points after Lewis Simper had scored twice for the hosts. Sutton responded with a 1-0 victory at The Lamb Ground in January.
Across their four meetings during the previous three seasons, Tamworth have two victories to Sutton’s one, with the other game drawn. Sutton have not lost on either of their two previous league visits to The Lamb Ground, however, recording a draw and last season’s 1-0 victory.
Tamworth begin Wednesday night’s game 22nd in the National League with eight points from ten matches, while Sutton are 11th with 17. The contrast is in the recent trajectories: Sutton have taken five points from their last three games, while Tamworth are looking for a response after conceding five at Aldershot.
