Midfielder Nicky Bailey has asked for a repeat showing from Sutton United fans after more than 2,000 cheered them on to a vital victory over Ebbsfleet.

The crowd was swelled to more than 3,000 by the travelling Fleet fans, but they left disappointed after goals from Dan Fitchett and Bedsente Gomis from the penalty spot secured a 2-0 win for United.

It also opened up a three-point lead at the top of the National League South table and left Fleet manager Daryl McMahon conceding defeat in the race for the title.

It all means that a victory over Chelmsford City on Saturday at Gander Green Lane would clinch the title.

But while McMahon may be handing it over already, Bailey is too long in the tooth to be celebrating, and that is where he wants the fans to come in.

“Saturday is the biggest crowd I have ever played in front of at Sutton,” he said.

“It helps massively to see a sea of yellow around the ground cheering us on, and we want to do it as much for them as for ourselves.

“Beating Ebbsfleet has put us in a good place, but we still have two games to play and it’s good that one of those is at home.

“But we have spoken about it in the dressing room, we can enjoy this win, but we need another three points from the next two games.

“We’re obviously hoping that we don’t get docked three points, but we cannot rely on that.

“Ebbsfleet was a must win, we did not want to draw, we had to go and win it, and thankfully we did.”

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He added: “Next weekend is the big one now, and we’ll be going into the game full of confidence and I am sure if we keep doing what we’re doing and with the fans’ backing we’ll get the three points.”

After coming through a nervy opening spell, United took control to lead 2-0 at the break.

From them on, there was no way back for Fleet, and Bailey admitted it was a comfortable afternoon from then on, even when boss Paul Doswell made his changes.

He said: “They had a couple of chances early on, and you’re going to get that, but we weathered it and we worked a good goal.

“At 1-0 it felt comfortable and they did not really trouble us after that.”

He added: “When you’re on a good run you have a lot of trust in the people you play with and whoever comes off the bench, you know they are going to do the job they have been given.

“The team has been doing so well that when you’re on the bench you want to be playing – but you cannot have a moan because they people playing are doing the business.

“When you get the chance, you know you have to take it – that has been drilled into everyone.

“We train hard every Tuesday and Thursday, and we’re seeing the results on the pitch.”