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

Two sides fighting around the playoff places in the League Two table will square off on Saturday, as Sutton United entertain Salford City.

The visitors dropped to sixth spot following a defeat to Tranmere Rovers last weekend, while their hosts have quickly improved their standing with three wins in the last four league games.

Match preview

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After a 10th-placed finish in League Two last season, Sutton United set out for a sustained promotion push this time around, but their start was relatively slow with just five points coming from their first five games.

They would quickly improve their form though, posting back-to-back 2-1 wins over Mansfield Town and Harrogate Town, before seeing their momentum halted by a defeat at the hands of Swindon Town.

Aiming to quickly rebound from that setback, Matt Gray's side hosted Hartlepool United last weekend and were successfully able to do so, seeing out a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Will Randall and Harry Beautyman and climbing up to 10th spot as a result.

Now on the back of a 3-1 defeat to Leyton Orient in EFL Trophy action, Sutton will turn their attention fully back to League Two and go in search of a fourth win in a five-game span on Saturday to continue their rise up the division.

They take on a Salford City side looking to return to winning ways following a positive start to their own promotion bid this term, after also failing to reach the playoffs last time around.

Following the summer appointment of manager Neil Wood, the Ammies began the new season in particularly impressive fashion, immediately putting themselves at the top end of the division with three victories and a draw from their opening four games.

After a minor setback, they would quickly bounce back with a string of positive results to keep themselves in the top five, with their defensive solidity standing out as only two sides have conceded fewer than the seven goals that they have shipped in nine outings thus far.

Looking to take an unbeaten league run to four games, the Ammies hosted Tranmere Rovers last weekend and were narrowly beaten as Josh Hawkes hit the only goal of the game, but they now head into the weekend on a relative high following a penalty shootout win over Accrington Stanley in an EFL Trophy group-stage contest.

Having dropped to sixth spot following last week's defeat, Wood's side will now look to return to winning ways in England's fourth tier and strengthen their position at the top end of the table at the 10-game mark.

Team News

Sutton United will again line up in a 4-4-2 shape, and attacker Tope Fadahunsi is unlikely to feature having missed recent games through injury after hitting two goals in five brief substitute appearances in League Two at the beginning of the campaign.

As a result, Omar Bugiel will continue to lead the line alongside Donovan Wilson, while Will Randall is another threat going forward having hit three goals in six fourth-tier appearances so far this term.

Midfielder Craig Eastmond was sent off in their EFL Trophy defeat in midweek, but he will be eligible to play on Saturday, with the suspension instead carrying over to their next cup outing.

Salford City's attack has somewhat declined since the departure of Brandon Thomas-Asante, who left for West Bromwich Albion late in the summer transfer window after hitting five goals in their first seven games of the season.

In his absence, Callum Hendry may continue to lead the line, although former Millwall man Matt Smith could be brought in to offer a different avenue of attack.

Elliot Watt has been a key man in midfield since his arrival from Bradford City, and he should again join Ethan Galbraith in the engine room with Matty Lund and Odin Bailey likely batting for the final spot.

Sutton United possible starting lineup:

Rose; Kizzi, Rowe, John, Milsom; Neufville, Eastmond, Beautyman, Randall; Bugiel, Wilson

Salford City possible starting lineup:

King; Watson, Leak, Vassell, Touray; Galbraith, Lund, Watt; Bolton, Smith, Simoes

We say: Sutton United 1-1 Salford City

Sutton United boast a formidable home record this season, and we do not see them falling to a defeat on Saturday but anticipate the visitors having enough quality to leave with a share of the spoils.

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