Skipper Jamie Collins is happy for National League rivals to carry on believing that Sutton United will be an easy touch.

After an opening day defeat at home to Solihull Moors, United have gone four games unbeaten, including three wins on the spin.

Last weekend’s 2-0 win over Macclesfield Town – thanks to first half goals from Ross Stearn and Bedsente Gomis – fired United to third in the fledgling table.

It could also have sent a message out to clubs who under-estimate last season’s National League South champions, although Collins is hoping that no one is noticing.

A Sutton United front: Professional and thorough, Macclesfield had no chance

“If you look at some of the reaction from managers and players after we’ve beaten them, they think they should be beating us because they think we’re not a very good team,” he said.

“We hope they keep thinking that and that we keep surprising them – and you never know, when you start winning games and you get that winning mentality of going to places thinking you cannot get beat, it is hard for teams to beat you.

“On paper, it could have been a tricky start and when you look at the first game, it could have been a long season.”

He added: “It was a great win [over Macclesfield]. They were doing well so we knew it was going to be a tough game.

“We took advantage of the wind in the first half and were 2-0 up at half-time.

“It might have looked like backs against the wall in the second half, but we had a plan to sit in and hit them on the counter-attack, and it worked perfectly. It’s another clean sheet and we scored two goals.”

The result means United have won back-to-back games 2-0, and it heralds a return to the form that led to promotion last season when United won six of the last 11 games by the same scoreline.

Collins said: “After that first game, to lose 3-1 against a team who we probably should have beaten, to get a point at Forest Green Rovers was a good result.

“Now we’ve gone back to the mentality of a lot of what we did last season.

“We knew if we did not concede we would win games because we knew we had players who could score goals.

“It is a case of the back six, from the keeper, back four to Nicky [Bailey], staying solid and letting the rest of the side win the game.

He added: “Last season we scored the most goals and kept the most clean sheets, so there was not a huge amount to change.

“We lost Tom [Bolarwina], but Roarie [Deacon] was a like-for-like replacement. Max [Biamou] has come in and done very well, and then there’s Chris [Dickson] coming off the bench.

“We have a very big squad and a very good squad – as the season goes on and with the amount of travelling you do, I am sure everyone will get a game as we pick up injuries.

“It is early days, but we should not be near the bottom come the end of the season.”

Sutton United go to Chester this weekend, before entertaining Dagenham & Redbridge at Gander Green Lane on Bank Holiday Monday.

Sutton United are reducing admission for season ticket holders from other clubs (Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two) on Monday when Dagenham & Redbridge are the visitors to Gander Green Lane. Anyone producing a valid season ticket will get through the turnstiles for £10 (adults), £6 (concessions) and £3 (juniors). Fans should note that West Sutton and Sutton train stations will be closed on Monday, meaning the best public transport access to the game is the 413 bus from Morden.