Sutton Utd boss demands more ahead of Hartlepool clash
Sutton Utd boss Chris Agutter has demanded more from his team ahead of their clash with Hartlepool United, despite their impressive start to the season. League standing: 3rd in National League, 6 pts, 2W-0D-0L from 2 games, recent form WW.
The two sides have identical records going into the game after collecting maximum points from their opening two games of the league season - and confidence is understandably high in both camps. After watching his new look squad claim wins in a visit to Woking and a home game with Altrincham, Sutton boss Chris Agutter will hope his side can continue moving on from what was a disappointing season last time out by inflicting a first league defeat on Pools counterpart Lee Clark.
Although Pools were widely expected to make such a positive start to the season on the back of an overwhelmingly positive summer, the same could not necessarily be said of Saturday’s hosts after they ended last season just five points and two places above the relegation zone. However, after a busy summer that saw the likes of Manchester City goalkeeper Spike Brits, Forest Green Rovers defender Jordan Moore-Taylor and former Pools winger Sam Folarin join the club, there is serious momentum in the home ranks.
Manager Agutter is refusing to get carried away and he insisted his players must improve a number of key aspects of their game before they can get to where they want to be. He told the club website: “If you’ve got ambitious people in the building that always want more, and you get enough of those people in the building - staff, players, directors, supporters, media personnel - you’ve got enough people in the building that want more, that want to achieve more, I think it can take you a long way.
Even defensively, high-pressing-wise, we were a mixed bag. Obviously we scored off the back of it, but it wasn’t consistent enough in terms of how well that was delivered. In terms of pressing and defending the box, that was good. Really positive. In possession, we’re well short of where we want to be. And that will take time. But that’s not an excuse to not win games of football.”
What happened?
Sutton Utd boss Chris Agutter has demanded more from his team ahead of their clash with Hartlepool United, despite their impressive start to the season.
Why it matters for Sutton Utd
The two sides have identical records going into the game after collecting maximum points from their opening two games of the league season - and confidence is understandably high in both camps.
What comes next?
Sutton Utd will face Tamworth at home on 2027-02-16, in their next fixture.
