Gateshead warned ahead of Sutton United clash
Gateshead will face National League rivals Sutton United at the International Stadium on Saturday.
Rob Elliot has warned Gateshead against underestimating National League rivals Sutton United as the two sides prepare to meet at the International Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Heed have hit a much improved run of form after suffering just one defeat in their last seven games to move within three points of escaping the relegation zone in non-league’s top tier. Preparations for Saturday’s home clash have gone well after Elliot’s men claimed seven points from a home game with Braintree Town and an away day double header against Solihull Moors and Southend United.
Despite the unquestionable upturn in form, there is still a lot of work to do for the Heed as they look to preserve their National League status and Saturday’s meeting with Sutton offers an opportunity to hand a further boost to their hopes to escaping the bottom four over the coming weeks. Former Newcastle keeper Elliot has called on the local community to get behind his players as they try to claim all three points against a Sutton side he described as ‘excellent’.
He told the club website: “All I can ask if that they keep turning out in numbers as best they can, keep the noise and keep the positivity. It’s going to be a tough game against Sutton on Saturday, they’re an excellent team, they’re picking up points, they’re in a false position in my opinion. So it’s not like we go into Sutton with all of those must-win nonsense, it’s not must-win, every game is a must-win, whether it’s the first day of the season or the forty sixth.
“The big thing for me is we get together and get behind these lads because we put a team out that will give absolutely everything, and these lads do, they have that quality, that togetherness, and that culture and understanding of how we play. All I can ask is we get as many people turn out as possible and stay behind the lads.”
On-loan Sunderland youngster Ethan Moore could be handed another chance to impress after he came off the bench during the midweek draw at Southend.