Sutton United skipper Jamie Collins is in confident mood ahead of tonight’s National League South trip to big-spending Ebbsfleet United.

Saturday’s 1-0 win over Gosport Borough, which owed a lot to the double-penalty saving heroics of goalkeeper Ross Worner as it did to Craig McAllister’s winner, was the first defeat inflicted on the visitors this season.

Only Bath City and Ebbsfleet, who top the table, are yet to be beaten, but after Saturday’s triumph at Gander Green Lane, Collins does not fear the side that boasts former Gillingham striker Danny Kedwell.

Collins said: “Ebbsfleet is going to be a big game – they are favourites to win the league with the budget and players they have got.

“But last year they had all the players, they came here (Gander Green Lane) in January and we beat them 2-1. It was one of our best performances last year.

“So we go there confident, thinking we can win the game, and with the players we have, we have a great chance.”

Your Local Guardian:

Get in: Craig McCallister slides the ball past keeper Nathan Ashmore for the decisive goal in the 1-0 win over Gosport Borough      Picture: Paul Loughlin

Collins was not part of the side that went to Ebbsfleet in September and lost 3-0, but then again, neither was Worner, and after his man of the match performance against Collins has every right to be confident.

However, there are still plenty of wrinkles that need to be ironed out.

He said: “Ross was man of the match, he’s made a couple of mistakes recently like we all have, but he’s bounced back from it and he saved us.

“But it was a well-won three points [against Gosport], given the chances we created we could have been a lot further ahead.

“We opened them up three or four times, and on another day we would have well ahead.”

Your Local Guardian:

Hero #2: Ross Worner saves his second spot-kick of the day, this time from former Sutton United striker Jamie White         Picture: Paul Loughlin

He added: “Lately we have not been switched on at the start of the second half and we were better against Gosport.

“Then in the last 15 minutes they had nothing to lose – they put five up front and their keeper was coming up for corners.

“It is about time we kept a clean sheet – our last was against Havant and that was the second game of the season – that’s all we care about, clean sheets.

“So we were happy with that and the three points, and we will build from that.”