National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Sutton United or Colchester United that keep their silverware dream alive.
There’s little time for restitution or working hard at the training pitch these days, with both teams having played their last game less than four days ago.
Sutton United form and stats
Action has already taken place for Sutton in EFL Trophy as they have defeated AFC Wimbledon, Stevenage, Crystal Palace U21 and Portsmouth to reach the 3rd Round.Sutton United have performed here at The Knights Community Stadium this season with 8 wins from 11 League Two matches. Some points have been lost, as they have drawn 0 games and lost 3. On the other hand, in the EFL Trophy, Sutton United has performed like this (both home and away): 3 wins, 1 draw and 0 losses.
A nice win for Sutton last time playing, versus Exeter City. That was also a home game and the match ended 2-1 with Bugiel and Milsom scoring for the victors. Bugiel, a forward, was the declared top performer for the team in that fixture, scoring a rating of 7.82 (out of 10). Bugiel scored one goal, hit three key passes and dribled past the opponent 1 of 2 times.
Ahead of that match, Sutton won a home game hosting Harrogate Town (1-0).The hosts are modest favourites in this match, with the bookmakers estimating the chance of a home win at about 50% +- five percent. It's interesting to look at how Sutton United have performed under similar circumstances, so here are some numbers: When modest favourites like this (we found 13 games) they have won nine times, drawn one and lost three.
The manager Gray will start preparations for the next game as soon this is finished, as the hosts are going to Oldham Athletic in only four days.
The Sutton fans have had their share of opportunities to cheer home goals this season, having seen 19 goals in 11 league matches. Sutton are not conceding a lot of goals here at The Knights Community Stadium in the league, averaging less than one per game. The total is 10 from 11 matches. There's been improvement defensively lately, as only 0 of these goals has been conceded in their last three home matches.
Colchester United form and stats
The traveling awayteam has defeated Ipswich Town, West Ham United U21, Swindon Town and Gillingham in order to reach 3rd round of EFL Trophy. Colchester was sent out of EFL Trophy in the group stage last season.Colchester United have only collected 10 points from their away games in the League Two, after 2-4-5 (11 played). Total EFL Trophy statistics for Colchester United: 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss.
Colchester play their second straight away game, having lost the previous one 1-3 to Crawley Town. Midfielder Sarpong-Wiredu was the best performer of that match, with a rating of 7.63. Sarpong-Wiredu hit the woodwork once, hit one key pass and dribled past the opponent 2 of 2 times.
It was a League Two defeat before that one as the away game against Walsall wasn't a success with a 0-3 loss.We have checked recent matches where Colchester have had similar odds to win. Win-draw-lose statistics from those 16 games were zero victories, seven draws and nine defeats.
A new game in only four days for Colchester United, the League Two home match versus Rochdale. Busy days.
The attacking power of Colchester United when travelling is not overwhelming with 7 goals scored from 11 league matches away. As opposed to that, Colchester have seen the ball go into their own net 16 times on the road.
Head 2 Head
Top Goalscorers
  F. Sears 8 goals |   D. Ajiboye 6 goals | R. Milsom 4 goals |
Sutton United missing players
Colchester United missing players
| Sutton United | Colchester United | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 13 | Played | P | 13 | 25 | ||
| 16 | 10 | Won | W | 4 | 8 | ||
| 2 | 1 | Drew | D | 4 | 7 | ||
| 7 | 2 | Lost | L | 5 | 10 | ||
| 40 | 22 | Scored | S | 13 | 25 | ||
| 25 | 8 | Conceded | C | 17 | 31 | ||
| 96% | 92% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 77% | 88% | ||
| 64% | 54% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 69% | 68% | ||
| 48% | 46% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 54% | 44% | ||
| 28% | 15% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 23% | 20% | ||
| 16% | 8% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 8% | 4% | ||
| 40% | 31% | BTTS | BTTS | 38% | 48% | ||
| 52% | 62% | Clean Sheets | C S | 31% | 24% | ||
| 12% | 15% | Failed to Score | F T | 54% | 40% | ||
| 5 | 4 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 4.5 | 4.6 | ||
| 5.6 | 5.7 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 5.5 | 5.8 | ||
| 1.4 | 1.4 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2.2 | 2 | ||
| 2 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 3 | ||
| 12.3 | 13.2 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 12.3 | 11.2 | ||
| 4.2 | 4.2 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 3.4 | 3.2 | ||
| 38% | 41% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 30% | 32% | ||
| 11.7 | 10.4 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 14.4 | 14 | ||
| 3.8 | 3.6 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 4.7 | 4.6 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Forest Green Rovers | 21 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 45 | 20 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 11 | 25 | 47 |
| 2 | Northampton Town | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 31 | 22 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 40 |
| 3 | Sutton United | 23 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 35 | 28 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 18 | 7 | 39 |
| 4 | Tranmere Rovers | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 20 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 38 |
| 5 | Swindon Town | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 34 | 26 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 37 |
| 6 | Port Vale | 21 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 35 | 23 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 35 |
| 7 | Newport County | 23 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 38 | 32 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 11 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 21 | 6 | 35 |
| 8 | Exeter City | 22 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 33 | 26 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 15 | 7 | 33 |
| 9 | Mansfield Town | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 27 | 28 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 13 | -1 | 32 |
| 10 | Leyton Orient | 22 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 37 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 31 |
| 11 | Harrogate Town | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 35 | 31 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 30 |
| 12 | Bradford City | 22 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 29 | 26 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 3 | 29 |
| 13 | Walsall | 22 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 28 | 27 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 29 |
| 14 | Crawley Town | 21 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 26 | 31 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 14 | -5 | 28 |
| 15 | Hartlepool United | 23 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 24 | 34 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 23 | -10 | 28 |
| 16 | Salford City | 21 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 21 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 27 |
| 17 | Rochdale | 22 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 30 | 30 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 18 | 0 | 27 |
| 18 | Bristol Rovers | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 27 | 33 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 15 | -6 | 26 |
| 19 | Barrow | 23 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 23 | 28 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 14 | -5 | 23 |
| 20 | Colchester United | 21 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 28 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 16 | -11 | 22 |
| 21 | Carlisle United | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 29 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 20 | -13 | 22 |
| 22 | Stevenage | 23 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 16 | 36 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 23 | -20 | 20 |
| 23 | Scunthorpe United | 23 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 19 | 38 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 22 | -19 | 19 |
| 24 | Oldham Athletic | 24 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 22 | 39 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 25 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 14 | -17 | 18 |
