2021-22 was an unforgettable season for Sutton United. The Amber and Chocolate’s maiden EFL campaign saw them flirt with promotion throughout the season, and experience a trip to Wembley for the EFL Trophy Final. 15th in the current League Two table and six points away from the start of the play-off places, it could be seen as a stretch to see such thrills repeated in 2022-23. Manager Matt Gray still has to handle defensive absences which force him to play starting right-back Joe Kizzi in the centre of defence and deploy natural winger Enzio Boldewijn at right-back, but the team set out still possesses decent quality. Alistair Smith’s return to fitness is timely as he can compliment Harry Beautyman’s box-to-box midfield role whilst Craig Eastmond provides more stability. Wingers Will Randall and Josh Neufville, the latter on loan from Luton Town, are always a threat with their direct running and level of ball control. Lebanese striker Omar Bugiel is an underrated focal point. 35-year-old left-back Rob Milsom is a constant threat from dead balls. Alongside his penalty-taking ability, his in swinging corners pose a threat to any opposition defence that comes up against him.

All of Sutton United’s last three wins have come against sides in League Two’s current bottom five. The division’s basement club Gillingham could provide an even simpler task. There is cause for celebration in Kent as Florida-based property tycoon Brad Galinson has acquired major shareholding of the club, bringing to an end a noticeable period of decline with Paul Scally the main owner. A 1-0 defeat at home to fellow strugglers Colchester United however showed just how much work Gillingham to do if they are to avoid a second consecutive relegation. Whether or not manager Neil Harris is selected as the man to lead Gillingham into the January window and beyond remains to be seen, but quality transfer business is undoubtedly required for the Priestfield outfit. Gillingham alongside Colchester United have League Two’s poorest away record, amassing just four points away from home so far, and scoring just two goals.

The rumours circulating indicate that Gillingham are already acting to improve their frontline quality this January, but those transfers cannot go through until the beginning of the new year. For this final game of 2022 at least, the Gills have to make do with the weak quality they currently have, and Sutton United need to take advantage of that. Matt Gray’s side may be thankful that they get their return fixture with Gillingham now and not later down the line.

Walsall host Stockport County as two of the in-form teams in League Two lock horns this Thursday.

The Saddlers are on a roll and picked up a last-gasp 2-1 away win at Swindon Town on Boxing Day to give their fans some festive cheer with defender Manny Monthe scoring the winner in added-on time. Speaking after that one, boss Michael Flynn, who was linked with the Stockport job last season before Dave Challinor got it, said his players showed a ‘never say die’ attitude. On the injury front, the Midlands outfit have received a boost recently with striker Connor Wilkinson making his return from the sidelines and he gives another option up top as opposed to Mansfield Town loanee Danny Johnson, Thomas Knowles and Andy Williams which is useful as the games come thick and fast.

Walsall are in a confident mood and will fancy their chances of at least scoring once against the Hatters next up. Their form has been very impressive and they are unbeaten in their last nine outings in all competitions, with their last loss coming back on 18th October in the Papa John’s Trophy against League One outfit MK Dons. In addition, they have scored in 12 of their last 14 matches which shows they have no problems in finding the back of the net as they look to rise into the play-offs.

Stockport are on fire as well and have threats all over the pitch. The North West club are only two points off their next opponents and will see it as an opportunity to close the gap on the top seven as they eye back-to-back promotions. They beat rivals Crewe Alexandra 2-0 last time out with key pair Paddy Madden and Will Collar on the scoresheet in that one at Edgeley Park. Challinor hailed his team and said he was ‘pleased’ with the way they approached the match, especially having seen their previous two clashes against Rochdale and Gillingham called off.

Those postponements could be a blessing in disguise though as they gave midfielder Antoni Sarcevic time to step up his recovery from injury and he came off the bench against the Railwaymen which is good news as he competes with Collar, Callum Camps and Ryan Croasdale for a place in the middle of the park. Nobody will want to face County at the moment, and they have lost just once in their last 12 games in all competitions and that came against table toppers Leyton Orient which shows how well they are going right now. They have also scored 12 in their last four matches so the goals are flying in for them at the moment and should continue.

Northampton Town have a great opportunity to continue their push for promotion as they take on inconsistent Swindon Town this Thursday.

The Cobblers are 3rd in the League Two table after a strong first few months of the season and are seven points inside the top three. They drew 1-1 away at Mansfield Town on Boxing Day and showed great character to steal a point on 88 minutes when top scorer Sam Hoskins fired in his 14th league goal of the campaign. Their boss Jon Brady said it was a point ‘gained’, whilst the Stags’ manager Nigel Clough hailed Northampton as the ‘best team in the league’ afterwards.

They remain without defender Ali Koiki but don’t miss him too much with their current options at the back such as Akin Odimayo, Jon Guthrie, Sam Sherring and Aaron McGowan proving to be solid. Northampton are a dangerous team to play and have the most prolific attack in the division, mainly due to the threat of Hoskins who they will be desperate to keep hold of in January. Brady’s men have fired in a whopping 37 goals in 22 games which is more than table toppers Leyton Orient and 2nd place Stevenage. Their recent form suggests they will have no problems in picking up another result and they are unbeaten in their last nine league outings, with their last defeat coming way back on 8th October against Salford City.

Swindon are not a convincing side by any stretch of the imagination and will be sweating ahead of their trip to Sixfields at the prospect of facing Northampton’s attacking prowess. The Wiltshire outfit lost 2-1 at home to Walsall last time out and threw away the lead that full-back Ellis Iandolo gave them in the first-half which proves their weak mentality. Manager Scott Lindsay admitted his players were ‘poor’ and he won’t be holding out much hope of a quickfire response in their next clash.

On the injury front, defender Mathieu Baudry is out of action which is a blow as replacements Frazer Blake-Tracey and Angus MacDonald don’t have the same experience he does. Swindon have this week ruled out the chances of re-signing former striker Charlie Austin, who is back in the UK after his six-month spell in Australia at Brisbane Roar. An emotional return for the ex-Premier League forward would have been a perfect Christmas present for Swindon fans, who now face the prospect of another tricky fourth tier encounter. The Robins have won just once in their last seven in all competitions and their confidence will be shot after Walsall’s equaliser against them at the death so they won’t be making their next trip in the best of moods.

Crewe Alexandra are in for another difficult game as they take on promotion chasing Carlisle United.

The Railwaymen have slipped down to 17^th in the League Two table and will be nervously looking over their shoulder now after their recent slump in form. They lost 2-0 away at rivals Stockport County on Boxing Day and didn’t have a shot on target. Boss Lee Bell said afterwards that his players look ‘worried’ about making mistakes which suggests they are seriously lacking any confidence at the moment which isn’t good.

There is no doubt that the Cheshire side are missing some of their key players and it is showing. Important attacking pair Chris Long and Courtney Baker-Richardson remain sidelined with long-term injuries, whilst midfielder Callum Ainley is out until next year as well. Conor Thomas and Eli King don’t have the same influence as the latter in the middle of the park and lack the same creativity, hence why the goals have dried up. Crewe have lost their last three games in all competitions against Barnsley, Newport and Stockport and have scored just once in the process. In addition, they have won just twice in their last 11 league outings which shows they are struggling to find their feet this term and are there for the taking for any side that comes up against them at the moment.

Carlisle are 4^th after an impressive first-half of the season and have their fans dreaming of League One football. They beat Bradford City 1-0 last time out thanks to defender Paul Huntington’s winner and are going well right now. Speaking after that one, popular manager Paul Simpson said that result was a ‘statement’ and believes his players will take ‘belief’ that they can push on from that.

On the selection front, defender Joel Senior was left out of the squad as his boss wanted more attackers on the bench. However, the summer recruit from Altrincham is fit and ready to play if he is called upon for the trip to Gresty Road. Carlisle are getting into a useful habit of picking up results, hence their position in the table and they have lost just once in their last seven league matches. They will be keen to bounce back from their 2-1 loss to Northampton Town the last time they were on their travels but if they can recapture their performance from when they thrashed Salford City 4-1 in their last away game before that one, they will have no problems in getting past Crewe at all.