Hello & welcome to another episode of Sutton United Talk Time on Podcast, the Sutton Podcast.
In this episode I’m joined by Sarah and Rory to break down three away matches in the National League: trips to Yeovil Town F.C., FC Halifax Town, and Hartlepool United F.C..
Sarah and Rory both made the journeys north, bringing first-hand perspective from the terraces, while I watched events unfold from afar.
Across the three matches we saw everything from frustrating defensive mistakes to a performance full of grit, smart substitutions and moments of real quality. Most importantly, Sutton came away with four points from three difficult away fixtures.
Mike Dowling (00:08.317)
Hello and welcome to another episode of Sutton United Talk Time on podcast. It's the Sutton podcast in association with LuckystarGin. If you are a regular listener, thank you very, very much. And if you're a new listener, you are very, very welcome. I'm your host Mike. And with me today, we have Sarah and Rory. I was going to try and think up some clever thing to say Rory our Northern soul. And then I couldn't think of another one for Sarah. So I didn't go with it, but I got the joke in anyway.
We have free away matches to run through, which obviously means I didn't go to any of them. We love hearing from you, join the conversations, stay connected, share your thoughts on all our episodes, chat with other fans, and let me know what you'd like to hear on the podcast. can find us on all station media platforms at Southern Podcast. And I really do like and really appreciate the likes and shares from all you Southern fans. Sarah, just before we started recording,
You were mentioning that you've had a nice long sleep today after getting home really, really swiftly from Hartlepool. How are you?
Sarah (01:11.626)
That's what I wanted to do. I was trying to recover from a cold as well so that hasn't helped. But you know what? Three points is three points. Makes you feel better every time.
Mike Dowling (01:20.911)
It does indeed. I've got the sniffles coming. So man, man flew a hoy, I'm sure. Rory, slightly shorter journey for you. Were you home in time for tea?
Rory (01:34.349)
Well, pretty much. I know I feel a bit of a fraud really the past couple of games. To be fair Halifax is hardly full. Four points.
Sarah (01:34.558)
You
Mike Dowling (01:43.461)
Yep, absolutely. Right, so... As I've already said, there's been a few missed games. under various different bits of pressure at work and whatnot, so I'm having to skip and double up and triple up on them. So we will start with Yovel, Rory, first of all with you. Going into the Yovel game, what were your hopes and expectations and how did the match go?
compared.
Sarah (02:15.252)
I don't think you know that question Mark, he's gone.
Mike Dowling (02:17.021)
I don't think he liked that question either. Do you want me to repeat it to you?
Sarah (02:20.978)
You need to know the game, so I'm probably best at playing Sonsra anyway.
Mike Dowling (02:24.517)
Yeah, go on. I could have watched that one on TV though, because that was allowed.
Sarah (02:27.402)
Oh that is true, yeah. But going into that game, I was feeling quite confident because I felt like we'd been playing a little bit better and there were flashes of like, it really needs to all come together. So was like, you know what, this is going to be a good game.
Mike Dowling (02:47.965)
Yep, there was some good hopes there. And to be fair, for about 70 minutes, it weren't that bad. It was all right.
Sarah (02:56.062)
No, yeah, it was a good game to watch. I felt we were playing pretty well. mean, there were times when we clearly lost concentration, but it wasn't until the end. We did give away a penalty early on, not that early on, but early enough to be incredibly frustrating for all of us. That needs to stop happening.
Mike Dowling (03:04.828)
Mm-hmm.
Mike Dowling (03:19.223)
It does, yeah. I think it's a record number. I haven't checked this out, but someone was saying it's a record number of penalties. Yeah, absolutely. mean, Chris was, I think fair to say it was was a tad unhappy with the 20 minutes. Do you think his reaction was fair?
Sarah (03:25.386)
It's got to be, hasn't it? It's crazy.
Sarah (03:45.77)
I can't tell you like, don't know exactly what he said to the players or anything like that. I know that's not what you're asking me. But to be upset with that, I think that's fair because to be honest, we made some really dull mistakes. And we've got to our hands up and say we made some really dull mistakes. I know some people are saying that, you know, he's the manager and it's his fault, but there's only so much you can manage to play by not acting in the pitch, you know what mean?
That- that- that's my job.
Mike Dowling (04:15.293)
Absolutely. Yeah. And he did also say at the meet and greet the other day that one of the games that we battled so well, I can't remember which one it was now, where I think Chris Hay got sent off, he said it was the player's choice to start changing it up from what he had asked them to do. So if he's going to give them credit for that, they've got to also take responsibility when it goes the other way.
Sarah (04:40.436)
Okay.
Mike Dowling (04:41.949)
Rory, stop pressing buttons because you seem to disappear every time.
Rory (04:44.104)
I'm not pressing anything. I know. I've relocated now Mike, so hopefully that's better. All good.
Sarah (04:47.722)
you
Sarah (04:51.242)
It's happened three over now, I think.
Mike Dowling (04:53.597)
So what was your hopes and expectations going into the Oval match and how did the match pan out for that for you?
Rory (05:02.486)
don't know about you but Yozl seems like a long long time ago. Yeah, mad isn't it? I think similar to what Sarah was saying, we've been playing really well, just not managing to get over the line and I really thought we played so well for 90 minutes. I we really controlled the game. You could just see it coming a bit though, watching it on TV.
Mike Dowling (05:06.15)
a week ago.
Rory (05:29.612)
They're either kind tied, turning towards the end.
Mike Dowling (05:33.341)
Well, we were just saying, yeah. But to be fair, we always feel it coming. We were 2-0 up yesterday and I could feel it coming. It was like 94 minutes. I was like, I've got to sell. But Rory, did you think it was Chris's point was a bit fair where he had a bit of a pop at the players?
Sarah (05:34.322)
Maybe, you could feel it coming.
Rory (05:36.544)
All right. Yeah.
Thank you, Sarah.
Sarah (05:44.362)
I still get seconded in my MSI. I don't want be one and a half. I want to be two and a half.
Rory (05:49.55)
Bye.
Rory (05:57.227)
Yeah, I do. I think it was kind of silly mistakes, wasn't it, for the penalties and the other goal that we conceded. They had nothing really in the game that they gave us and they were a great side. I thought we outplayed them, controlled the game and then just, yeah, giving away stupid penalties. What penalties we were saying at the weekend, penalty 16 or whatever it is, which is mad.
Mike Dowling (06:20.701)
I think it's 758 by now. Yeah.
One of the point that Chris was quite keen to make after that particular interview was that last 20 minutes was for everyone who wants us to go long all the time. He goes, that's what happens when you go long, you don't keep the ball. And I thought that was quite interesting. The other point on that is Hayden was a goal machine in those two games. Two in two, what was that all about? Stick the boy up front, go on.
Rory (06:38.763)
and support.
Sarah (06:47.626)
Hmm.
you
Rory (06:53.901)
Thank
Mike Dowling (06:57.757)
Obviously coming out of that there was big disappointment because with the run of those three games you're kind of looking at the oval game and going right we're gonna get something out of that we'll get the three points there. did promise, Rory we'll start with you this time so don't press any more buttons, he did promise that going into the Halifax game it would be better. Did he fulfill it from...
your perspective were you hoping for better were you a bit worried because obviously they're a playoff chasing side?
Rory (07:27.853)
Yeah, I think that really could sense the kind of the change from the start. think that certainly first 20 minutes that Halifax was really good, really positive, really up for it. He could, yeah, I did wonder, kind of reflecting back on Halifax, I wonder if they missed, we missed Jake a bit in in centre midfield. And you can kind of tell that in pockets of the game. But then kind of grew, I think, yeah, Hayden and
and Kai between them and then definitely going into the Hartlepool game and really controlled midfield I felt. But yeah, definitely a real change. I felt much more positive players really up for it. I suppose wanting to make amends from Jovo it felt a bit like that.
Sarah (08:16.169)
Yeah.
Mike Dowling (08:17.169)
I'd say did he fulfill the promise for you going into the Halifax? It will definitely be better after the Yovl match.
Sarah (08:26.41)
100 % but I mean the Yogo match we didn't most of the game we didn't play badly but it was again so stupid mistakes and as Rory said a lot more control than the Halifax game that's a really good point about Jake I didn't think of that but you're right he kind of did leave a little hole but they've kind of filled it do you what I mean they've kind of worked their way it's getting used to getting used to not being there it's just you know
Rory (08:33.485)
Thank
Sarah (08:51.442)
And I think they've really risen to the challenge because Halifax are a really good side. And I was quite impressed with them and they played some really good football but we all managed to kind of hold our own against them which I'm not saying I'm surprised but I was assured by that that things aren't bad at the moment.
Mike Dowling (09:11.645)
Yeah, I mean, that was a bit of a topsy-turvy game. We were ahead, then it was level, we were behind, then it was level, and it was like, oh God, are we going to take the lead? What's going to happen? It was, yeah. But that's an interesting point, Sarah. I'm going to stick with you on that. We have over the years kind of done that, where it's the top teams, the good, informed teams, we go and we do really well.
Sarah (09:20.264)
Yeah, it's a good match, I'll say.
Rory (09:21.677)
Okay.
Mike Dowling (09:37.681)
Then teams struggling at the other end of the table, where you're sitting there going, we'd expect a nice win here. And it's like, no, no, we didn't get it. Where do you think, I mean, these are new players, this is a new management. Why do you think as a club that happens? do you, or do we only notice it when it does?
Sarah (09:45.076)
Thank you.
Sarah (09:54.335)
I was going to say I think there is an element of that Mike. You know if it's something like this is the Sutton thing we're going to really notice it when it does happen. It's interesting isn't it and it's clearly when that happens it's clearly a psychological element to it but like you said it's different people so how is that? I I'm wondering the same thing about considering the penalty. It's a completely different thing from the start of the season. It's different management. We're still considering penalties every week so what's that all about? So it's a really interesting one. I think a lot of our fans don't seem to have noticed because people will be like
I think the points we should have got were doomed if you can't beat a team like Braintree or whoever. It's awful, it's awful, and then we've got all this hard game come up against top sides and we're not going get anything out of those are we? And I'm like, do you know what guys, it doesn't matter where your points come from as long as you get the points. Beating Rochdale would give us the same number of points that beating Truro gave us. It doesn't matter who you beat.
Mike Dowling (10:46.503)
Yeah. No, and what should be happening, Rory, is you should be, you get points against Hartlepool, that should then give you the confidence to say, right, we can beat the top teams, and then we're going to struggle against the weaker teams. Any team in the National League can beat anyone else because that's just the bastard league for a reason. why do you think it seems to happen? Or, and the reason I said it, Sarah, is...
Rory (11:00.877)
Thank
Mike Dowling (11:12.797)
because I'm pretty sure you said this before about the referees, we only remember when it goes against us. But do you think it is something that we only remember like the new car type thing where you see you don't see the car at all and then suddenly you see it everywhere once you've bought it?
Rory (11:25.421)
Yeah, I think there is an element of that. And I think like, so you might think that the league is so close, isn't it? I mean, from where we are, was looking last night, it's only three, four points and then all of a sudden you're kind of up to 11th, 12th. So I think there aren't, apart from the colour of the top four or five, there aren't any standout teams. Everyone is really bunched together. So maybe it's a bit of a false premise that we're starting from possibly on this. But I think on the Halifax game, definitely that.
Sarah (11:46.527)
Mm-hmm.
Rory (11:54.733)
That kind of resilience came across in that game, just to keep fighting when it looked like things had kind of turned against us and we were 2-1 down. Didn't give up, kept going. Really good substitutions, which is the same against the part of the pool that Sarah and I were saying yesterday. I think really smart use of substitutes has kind of really helped us in the last half an hour of games as well.
Mike Dowling (12:18.417)
Yeah, bringing on some of those fresh legs. So, Nandi, yesterday, your local side, going into the game, what were you hoping for? Because obviously, one point from the last six, were you thinking, we could sneak something here, or were you a bit of confidence?
Rory (12:23.414)
Yeah.
Rory (12:39.021)
Yeah, I wasn't very confident if I was, because they just, you've got Hartlepool friends and they just come off the, yeah, beating Carlisle quite considerably. And I think they were, by listening to the local radio on the way down, they were really complacent. They were kind of taking the three points for granted and saying, oh yeah, big game against Halifax for the weekend. But we're going to get three points tonight. I think that, yeah, I wasn't expecting, I would have definitely taken a draw. I think they were a bit, yeah, they were a bit arrogant.
bit complacent to be honest.
Sarah (13:10.762)
I saw one of their fans as I passed them in the street, just looking into the stadium, and just yelled at me, stop this shit and you'll get relegated. I said, that's nice. And I thought, at the end I thought, I bet he was the one who left, like was a fire drill at night.
Mike Dowling (13:19.965)
You
Mike Dowling (13:26.589)
yeah, yeah. I mean, obviously you guys were there, I was watching on TV. They weren't very complimentary about us, especially in the first half where we seemed to be doing all right and then giving them a good chance to go, on here, take the ball from our defense. So why is Sutton doing this? I mean, they're struggling, they should be trying to get rid of it as quickly as possible. And I was like, I really hope we make you eat these words. I really, really do.
Rory (13:27.628)
Thank you.
Mike Dowling (13:56.957)
Obviously. I mean, Sarah at times, obviously watching it on TV, watching it back is slightly different, but did you feel it while we were there that we were literally just cutting them to pieces at times, especially in that second half?
Sarah (14:06.942)
No.
Sarah (14:14.058)
Yeah, yeah I did. I was really impressed with some of the play. There were a dodgy moments, but our defense really was brilliant actually. There were some moments, weren't there, with the defense that just pulled it out of nowhere. It was like, how did that not go in? Oh, we've just done another really good defensive move, great.
Mike Dowling (14:34.375)
Well, they were all great, but you got to pick out Junior for giving that guy a head start. As Chris said in his interview, if you gave me that much of a head start, you'd expect Junior to catch up. goes, but that guy is fast. And he goes, add Junior, get there. I mean, that was amazing. Did you realize at the time how big, how good that tackle was? Cause it took me the second replay to kind of go, Jesus, he was far behind.
Sarah (14:40.093)
yeah, things got out of last night.
Rory (14:49.228)
Thank
Sarah (15:02.602)
I think we did, didn't we? We all went, that was an amazing tackle. think we all pitted it out for the time. especially since, for player like Julian, you would not believe he was only 18. Or maybe 19, no. He's still only 18. But you wouldn't believe that. And what's saying he looks old? I'm saying that the way he plays is way beyond his years. And with thinking like that, like, what just happened, how can I fix that? And that quick thinking and the strength he's got to go in there at his age is amazing.
Mike Dowling (15:14.801)
meant.
Mike Dowling (15:30.577)
Yeah, mean, Rory, Chris has said several times, it's ridiculous how much we rely on an 18 year old. I mean, there was interest in him in the January window. I suspect that interest will be even more now. But what did you think of him and that tackle particularly and in the defense overall? I know Sarah mentioned them praised them, but what did you think of them?
Rory (15:59.005)
I thought they were incredible. thought, yeah, just outstanding all night. Really. If look at that, didn't really have that many shots on Jack's goal, really. think they're three or four maybe in the attire.
Sarah (16:11.122)
Massive amount of your mouth is kicking in those numbers, so it's unusual expect.
Rory (16:14.646)
Well that's true yeah, if he was a bit dodgy first half, maybe a bit better. But juniors.
Mike Dowling (16:17.735)
Well, come on, let's be fair. Let's be fair, Jack has got some very dodgy glass ankles.
Sarah (16:25.418)
Do keep it clean and shiny!
Mike Dowling (16:26.991)
He did keep a clean sheet, but the poor boy can't stand up for the 90 minutes. He, he often gets, has to have treatment on those really sore ankles midway through each job. Yeah.
Sarah (16:37.171)
absolutely terrible!
Rory (16:37.996)
Yeah, that was tactical, wasn't it? That was really cleverly done, take seconds off. Yeah.
Sarah (16:41.482)
I don't know what to say to that.
Mike Dowling (16:45.673)
I suspect that will change that rule. I think in women's football they're going to be, did I say in 27 or 28, they're going to be bringing in a rule that if the goalkeeper goes down injured, another player will have to go off the pitch for 30 seconds to allow for it. Somebody else said you don't need to do that. A much more practical solution is every time a player is injured, all the players got to go into the centre circle.
Rory (16:49.664)
Thank you.
Sarah (16:50.056)
Yeah.
Sarah (17:04.852)
Yeah, I that.
Rory (17:05.74)
All right.
Mike Dowling (17:14.735)
and they can't come across to have a chat with the managers. That's it. Just all go into the center circle. That's it. You always stop everyone doing it because you can imagine Jack Simms and Prutti moaning at someone. They have to run up to the center circle every time someone's injured. Stop doing it. But Ozzie scored his first goal for us, Sarah. What did you think of that? At first I thought it was a great header. Then I thought, no, it wasn't. He somehow managed to get his foot up higher than his head. But what did you think of his goal?
Sarah (17:44.651)
To be honest, yeah, I'm going have to be very honest about that. It was a goal, I just went mental. It wasn't, you know, I'm sure we'll talk about the other goal in a minute, but it wasn't like that. It was just scored on happy, basically.
Mike Dowling (18:02.993)
You saw me take the tea in before you went right. I'm gonna drop it now just as he's ready to spit it out. Rory, what were you feeling on that first go and did you look at it or did you watch it back?
Rory (18:17.163)
Yeah, was. Yeah, was fabulous. thought the two of them up front played really well off each other. thought, yeah, real handful all night. It was a bit of a surreal goal really. It kind of happened in a bit of a flash, I think, because it was from the corner. And then he just... Yeah, it came from nowhere at the back both. But yeah, it was really good, wasn't it? Just back on Eccleston. Yeah, I thought Eccleston was outstanding all night. I think the importance of that tackle was right before half time, wasn't it?
Sarah (18:29.916)
I was so excited!
Rory (18:45.997)
changes the game if he doesn't make that or if he can see the penalty or if he gets sent off. That changes the whole thing but I think that game has a list for half time as well and then the goal just yeah it's amazing.
Sarah (18:46.356)
Thanks.
Sarah (18:58.186)
because it could have the other way, could have been another penalty.
Rory (19:01.706)
Yeah, it's really easy.
Mike Dowling (19:03.047)
Well, in that situation, you can see why a player might go, I'm to have to take him out here. That's not like a penalty where we're giving him away going, what are doing? He was going nowhere. That one, you no choice there. But you mentioned the corner for the Aussies goal was a good AFC connection. then, well, I'm not sure if Kai just ran out of energy because...
Rory (19:09.632)
Yeah.
Rory (19:15.072)
Yeah.
Sarah (19:16.223)
Yeah.
Mike Dowling (19:30.449)
We were passing the ball around, popping it here, there and everywhere and he got it and just went, I can't be asked to run anymore. Just lashed it in, Sarah. What did you think of that goal? Did you blink and miss it?
Sarah (19:40.618)
That was fantastic strike! That was a really clean goal! I'm sure it was his plan all along. I'm going score a fantastic goal tonight.
Mike Dowling (19:50.063)
Huh? yeah, yeah, of course. Yeah. If I knew him better, I'd be saying he shinned it, but that's not fair. don't know him that well. Rory, what did you think of that guy? I say, the buildup to it, popping it around, nice, short, lovely passings, and then just bang.
Rory (20:05.942)
Yeah.
I think it's becoming part of our game because it wasn't dissimilar to Lewis's goal against Halifax playing some lovely football, keying it up, laying it off to someone who just picks a spot, albeit it was a lot further out. I didn't realise until watching it back just how far out he was. But yeah, that put the icing on the cake. think we were a bit worried after Brandon missed that opportunity a bit before we thought, God.
Mike Dowling (20:34.193)
Yes!
Sarah (20:34.973)
Right?
Rory (20:37.478)
He plays really well. Yeah, I thought he was really good last time. But yeah, he's just that. He is.
Sarah (20:37.822)
I'm sure going to a great day.
Mike Dowling (20:44.187)
What is great about that is he moves on. He's not someone who will sit and dwell on that. He's just, okay, that's gone. I loved it when he did the one a couple of weeks ago where he fell over his own feet because his body was moving and his legs didn't catch up. And he was quite happy to talk about it and take the mic in the interview. I was like, I really like that. I really do like that. That's good. Aaron did warn him. He was mentioning it. He was like, yeah, go for it.
Rory (20:52.94)
Sorry, guys.
Sarah (20:53.886)
That's true.
Sarah (21:12.234)
I think he's really gone from strength to strength since he joined us. I've always said since I've played for us, thought this guy's got a lot of potential. I like the look of him right from the start, but he does kind of do that quite a lot when he's finishing just isn't quite there.
For what? I'm seeing improvement week on week almost and I feel like he's got potential there and if he could like, you know, do it without finishing he wouldn't be playing for something.
Mike Dowling (21:43.675)
Yeah, I mean, I think he's got seven now, I heard. Which in the realms of our season isn't that bad. So yeah, if he can improve his finishing, but as you say, he wouldn't be here. If he was a foot taller, he wouldn't be here because he'd be holding the ball up somewhere else. But some AFC fans were like, you're welcome, by the way. You haven't thanked us yet. Well, you haven't thanked us for Aaron Pierre, so.
Sarah (22:12.556)
You
Mike Dowling (22:13.149)
You
Sarah (22:15.562)
was spending my time on the way back from Halifax, I was at Mansfield, I was brought into a service station and the parking space in that one was really really narrow and the people came back to the car next to it and they started to get back in so I said do you want me to pull out and I said yeah I'm going be a bit more close and they wearing all the AC Wimbledon stuff and I'm like I don't normally help Wimbledon fans and I have my sock shirt on and this was like Lester or something like that and it turned out that they knew someone who was good friends with Ashley Nadeson so I let
Mike Dowling (22:15.665)
We'll leave it. Yeah. Yeah.
Sarah (22:45.526)
enough.
Mike Dowling (22:46.193)
okay. Fair enough. Fair enough. Now, I wrote this down and you've kind of stolen my point a little bit, Sarah, I'm going to be honest. I said, over the three games, we probably would have taken four points beforehand. You probably would have said, we'll get three points at the oval and we'll nick a point elsewhere. So over the three games, is four points fair and slightly above because the
Sarah (22:56.017)
sorry.
Mike Dowling (23:15.613)
They're long, tricky away games. I know it's one of those things you could never take it in advance, but would you have taken that in advance, Sarah?
Sarah (23:26.154)
I've liked five points since we're doing, we've been, seem to be getting better and better. But yeah, to be fair, I wouldn't have expected anything at Heart of Pearl, and we got all three. So yeah, I reckon Mother's taken four from three games.
Mike Dowling (23:41.489)
Yeah. Rory?
Rory (23:43.277)
Yeah, totally I would have done. I think maybe looking back, given how well we played across the three, I think we probably deserved more than four. Yeah. Well, I think there's an argument for that, isn't there?
Sarah (23:50.186)
Because I said, I'm to you.
Mike Dowling (23:52.497)
Yeah, all nine. Yeah.
Rory (24:02.518)
Bye.
Mike Dowling (24:02.715)
No. No.
Sarah (24:07.755)
There's in the way that we played where we wouldn't have deserved that, if know what mean.
Mike Dowling (24:15.121)
Yeah, none of them was a smashing grab for us. mean, the oval was definitely a smashing grab for them where we switched off and they must have been delighted. Yeah, no, of course, exactly. But that leaves us now six points clear with 11 to go. I wrote this down very quickly, so I hope it's Rory, are we still looking backwards or are you saying, only three or four more points and we're up getting towards the top 10?
Rory (24:15.156)
Yeah.
Sarah (24:20.286)
room.
Sarah (24:23.914)
It was a jolly half full though, so you know.
Mike Dowling (24:45.373)
Are you looking forwards? Upwards?
Rory (24:47.531)
Yeah, definitely looking forward. Definitely looking up with Mike. think given the way we've played, the kind of resilience that we've shown on the back of Yeovil, the result yesterday, I think we should be looking up. Definitely particularly, and like we said before, you can never take it for granted, can you, particularly with the teams down the bottom. But given the fixtures, I think we should be looking up. Players on form, people coming back. Yeah, I think we should be looking
Mike Dowling (25:15.473)
Yeah, I mean, we've got a couple of teams below us. I think one team has got a game in hand in us, but they're not in the relegation zone. So those six points are teams who've played the same number of games as us. What about yourself, Sarah? Are you still kind of looking below or are you just going, no, the only way is up like you has?
Rory (25:21.58)
Yeah.
Sarah (25:32.543)
I'm someone who always looks up the table. I'm never one of these people who's like, oh, we're going down, we're going down. We have to do better or we'll be in trouble. I try never to have that attitude. I always look and see how high can we get if we win the next game, how much further can we climb on the table in the next few? I'm always like that. It does mean I get disappointed more often. But I don't want to be like that. I'm one of the people who's constantly moaning about relegation.
Mike Dowling (26:00.155)
Yeah, well, I'm glad you both said that because there's 33 points to play for and we are only 14 behind the playoffs for us.
Sarah (26:10.312)
The problem with that is it's not possible for teams above us to lose all their games because they're playing each other.
Rory (26:11.98)
Late run.
Mike Dowling (26:20.221)
They're yeah, but they're playing teams below us and above as well. So we don't need them all to win all the, lose all the games, just enough. But what annoys me and I'm going be honest is where we were in November, I was saying, we're only 17 points away and people were laughing. And then we had an awful December and an awful January and suddenly we're, we're still only 14 points away. And I'm like, for God's sake, if we just played better in those matches, I'm sure Chris is saying the same.
Sarah (26:27.018)
You
Mike Dowling (26:52.812)
But Rory, we'll start with you. I won't be at the game on Saturday. I'm sure you won't either. But Morkham at home, there's a reason we're starting with you. What do you think about that game? you think, I mean, they've had a bit of an odd season. They've battered, battered, battered, and then suddenly they'll hand out a battering. So how are you feeling about that game and kind of where do you see it that we have to do? Or is it just another game?
Rory (27:07.628)
Yeah.
Rory (27:21.559)
think we need to look at it as just another game, don't we? Just carry on what we've been doing for the past two slash three games and just go into it with that kind of positive mindset. I if we start thinking, yeah, this is definitely an easier game for us, I think that's when we'll get on stuff into a typical kind of sudden thing. But yeah, I fancy us. think given the particular, yeah, strikers on full midfielders playing really well,
I thought Don Cor was really good last night as well. Well, I everyone was really. Yeah, I know Chris called it out, he? Just what a good job it was.
Mike Dowling (27:54.525)
I thought he was excellent. Yeah. I mean, a lot of people were raving about him in the first couple of games and I'm like, OK, I can see he's quick, but I wasn't overly sure about positioning and stuff. But last night he was absolutely amazing. I mean, they all were. Yeah, you can't really go, anyone was awful. But I have to say Saturday is not just another game. Is it, Sarah?
Rory (28:12.53)
are so strong. Yeah.
Mike Dowling (28:25.405)
It's a very important match.
Sarah (28:27.068)
very important match. I know a few important stuff is off the pitch.
Mike Dowling (28:32.892)
Mm-hmm.
Sarah (28:33.242)
Hopefully we'll translate it on the page and get a really good atmosphere up. So Saturday it's our annual Her Game 2 dedicated men's fixture. So you'll see me and Lucy and Emma around the grounds basically flying the flag for the campaign. For anyone who doesn't know, Her Game 2 is a campaign that works to basically try and get rid of sexism in sports, particularly football when it started, and also other sports like cricket.
out a nice hockey nut. There is still quite a lot of sexism. are still lot of women, like 90 % of women in the survey had said that they had experienced sexism at football match or online harassment about being female football fans. So the idea of having a dedicated fixture is just to increase the visibility of the campaign around our ground, to show that we support the cause, gives a really strong message to people that sexism isn't tolerated at South Tone, we're not that kind of club.
Also just a strong message to women and girls who might... firstly those who might be reluctant to go to football matches, are quite a lot of women and girls who haven't been to football because they're worried about what the crowd will be like but also to those who are there, it says to them if anything does happen we're here for you. So anyone who's concerned about anything to do with if they hear any sexist chanting or get any kind of harassment at a game because they're women or girls then they can
they are very welcome to come to me and talk to me about it. I'm the main link person between the pub and the campaign. So that's what we're doing on Saturday. That's what we're celebrating. It's the time of International Women's Day, which is on Sunday.
Mike Dowling (30:08.093)
Absolutely, I knew that as well. Yeah, it's important to come in. I'm to put a little plug for my other podcast that I do, Moment Echo. I've got a great interview with Kaz, who is the founder, or one of the founders of her game too as well. Yeah, but yeah, it's going to be a great day. I'm a little bit gutted because I'm sorting out everyone's council tax bills on Saturday.
Sarah (30:23.976)
just very well so that'd be great I can't wait to see that.
Rory (30:35.615)
Fuck you.
Mike Dowling (30:36.783)
Everyone can hate me twice!
Sarah (30:36.938)
Sorry, I meant to mention as well that this is the men's dedicated feature. also have the women's one against Brentford on Sunday the 22nd. And that's on VBS as well.
Mike Dowling (30:47.249)
Yes, was, and that's yeah, absolutely, that's a something as well. So we want a big crowd for that anyway. So that'll be a good one. But yeah, coming support on Saturday. This makes Sarah out of a job really. Let's not need the her game two stuff. Let's just be like, yeah, we don't need it, but it's always gonna be around. It's annoying, but it's one of those things. But yes.
We're going to wrap up this episode of Sutton Podcast. As always, appreciate everyone's attention and feedback. Follow, like, share, give us the thumbs up on YouTube. Look, my thumb. All social media is at Sutton Podcast. Give us a hello. Tell us what you like, what you don't like. And a big thank you to our sponsors, Lucky Star Gin. Big thank you for Rory and Sarah. We've got our stars aligned with the childcare and everything and different responsibilities.
thank you very much. Hope you've enjoyed listening to this podcast. Thank you to two for listening and take care and we'll catch up soon. Bye bye.
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