Latics v Sutton - Form And Player To Watch

The Latics and Sutton United both share a rich non-league history in their own rights but with the two clubs playing in the Northern Premier League and the Southern League their paths never crossed.

 

Latics gained election to the Football League in 1978, before the formation of a National Conference League, effectively a 5^th division, in the 1979/80 season, so the two clubs have never shared a league, never mind a division, until this season following Sutton’s promotion to League Two of the EFL.

 

More Than The Pizza Trophy Connects The Two

Tuesday evening is the first encounter between the two clubs, the EFL Trophy semi-final, known this season as the Papa John Pizza Trophy, bringing us together for an historic meeting, but there is a connection and ironically it involves this particular competition.

 

In the 1988/89 season, Sutton United of the Conference League caught the country’s imagination when they knocked top flight Coventry City out of the FA Cup, playing for Sutton that day was a certain Paul Rogers who would go on to make 100 appearances for the Latics.

 

Fast forward 10 years and Rogers is scoring the only goal of the game in the 1999 EFL Trophy final at Wembley as we defeat Millwall to win what was then called the Auto Windscreen Shield, 1:0.

 

Another connection is former Latics defender Terell Thomas, who made three appearances for us in the 2017/18 season, including skippering a young Latics side in the infamous 0:4 home defeat to Accrington at the DW Stadium in the EFL Trophy, Thomas spent the second half of that season on loan at Sutton and made 19 appearances for them.

 

Sutton United Current & Pizza Form

Sutton currently sit 3^rd in League Two with 57points from 34 games, their recent form is, DLDWWW.

 

Sutton’s 16 away games so far this season have brought 20 points, with five wins, six defeats & five draws, scoring 22 goals and conceding 24.

 

They won their last game, Saturday 5 March, 3:0 against Rochdale, the 3 points consolidating their 3^rd position in the League Two Table.

 

So far in the Pizza Trophy, Sutton have an impressive record, coming top of their group, which included Crystal Palace, Portsmouth and AFC Wimbledon, winning all three games, scoring six goals and conceding none.

 

Sutton beat Stevenage in the first knockout game, following a goalless draw they won 4:3 on penalties, they followed this up with victories over Colchester United 2:1 – the only goal they have conceded in the competition - and Harrogate 1:0, all their knockout games have been played at home, in fact their only away game in the competition before now came in the group stage away at Portsmouth where they won 0:2.

 

Player To Watch – David Ajiboye

David Ajiboye

 

A former Brighton youngster, David Ajiboye is making a name for himself down Gander Green Lane.

 

The 23 year old wide attacking player is in his 3^rd season with the club and is currently their leading goal scorer with seven goals in 31 league games so far this season. Ajiboye has also made four assists and is clearly a threat with his pace and power on the ball.

 

Sutton Progression In Papa John Pizza Trophy

Date	Competition	Result
31 Aug 2021	EFL Trophy	Sutton 3:0 Crystal Palace
12 Oct 2021	EFL Trophy	Portsmouth 0:2 Sutton
09 Nov 2021	EFL Trophy	Sutton 1:0 Wimbledon
30 Nov 2021	EFL Trophy	Sutton 0:0 Stevenage (4:3P)
04 Jan 2022	EFL Trophy	Sutton 2:1 Colchester
25 Jan 2022	EFL Trophy	Sutton 1:0 Harrogate Town

Latics Progression In Papa John Pizza Trophy

Date	Competition	Result
31 Aug 2021	EFL Trophy	Latics 0:0 Wolves
05 Oct 2021	EFL Trophy	Crewe 2:0 Latics
10 Nov 2021	EFL Trophy	Latics 2:0 Shrewsbury
30 Nov 2021	EFL Trophy	Accrington 1:1 Latics  (4:5P)
04 Jan 2022	EFL Trophy	Oldham 0:6 Latics
25 Jan 2022	EFL Trophy	Latics  1:0 Arsenal