Preview: Sutton United vs. Rochdale - prediction, team news, lineups

Sutton United take on Rochdale at the VBS Community Stadium on Saturday, with the home side looking to end their five-game winless run in all competitions.

The visitors are also struggling, and they have managed just one victory in their last seven outings.

Match preview

As a consequence of poor recent form, collecting the third-lowest amount of points of any team in the past 10 games, Sutton are 17th in the League Two standings.

The U's appear to be sticking by manager Matt Gray despite the extremely poor recent results, with a 2-0 home defeat against Farnborough Town in the FA Cup first round no doubt a particularly tough one to take.

Recent fixtures have been tricky, with Gray's side taking on Northampton Town away from home at the end of October and getting a decent point, but this was then followed by two defeats, losing to a red-hot Stockport County side and automatic-promotion chasing Bradford City.

It is not so much the losses that will be a concern for the Sutton manager, but the manner of them, failing to put up a fight in a 3-0 battering at Stockport and only registering one shot on target against the Bantams.

However, what may give the U's hope is that they are coming up against a side that are also struggling, with Rochdale 20th in the table, just three points above the relegation zone.

Indeed, the Dale have really found it tough in recent weeks, having appeared to find their form at the end of September, beating Colchester away to start a run of three wins in four league games.

Jim Bentley has certainly made his side more difficult to break down since being appointed at the end of August, only losing by more than one goal once, but a lack of goals has cost them on multiple occasions.

In three of their last four matches, Rochdale have lost 1-0, most recently falling just short at home to Mansfield Town in another disappointing display from an attacking point of view, only registering one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.

The match prior was a 1-0 victory against playoff-chasing Salford City, which highlighted what the squad is capable of on occasion, but goalscorer Ian Henderson will need to show the same form in front of goal more often if the Dale are to rise up the table.

Team News

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Striker Omar Bugiel will continue to miss out for Sutton, as he is serving the last match of the suspension he picked up after seeing red against Stockport.

With that in mind, Kylian Kouassi should get the nod in attack, starting next to Kwame Thomas, who has recently returned from injury, in a 4-4-2 system.

Coby Rowe limped off with a knee injury in the FA Cup defeat against Farnborough, so Joe Kizzi and Louis John are expected to play at centre-back.

Rochdale have a whole host of injuries to deal with at the moment, as Scott Quigley, Aidy White and Tahvon Campbell are all set to miss out, although they are making progress in their recovery.

In Quigley's absence, Henderson is set to get the nod in attack, with Devante Rodney and Tyrese Sinclair supporting him from either side, and James Ball through the middle.

Sam Graham and Ethan Ebanks-Landell have been the consistent centre-back pairing since Bentley's arrival, and the pair should be trusted again on Saturday.

Sutton United possible starting lineup:

Rose; Boldewijn, Kizzi, John, Milsom; Neufville, Lovatt, Eastmond, Randall; Thomas, Kouassi

Rochdale possible starting lineup:

O'Donnell; Keohane, Graham, Ebanks-Landell, John; Brierley, Diagouraga, Rodney, Ball, Sinclair; Henderson

We say: Sutton United 0-0 Rochdale

Rochdale have shown signs of improvement since Bentley was appointed as manager, but they have real issues scoring goals. However, with the Dale coming up against a side in bad form, the spoils may be shared in a stalemate.

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