Matt Gray could not have asked for a better festive period for Sutton after a 2-1 victory over neighbours AFC Wimbledon at Gander Green Lane.
The Uās capped off a fine week with three wins from as many games and now sit only three points off the League Two play-off positions after just one defeat in their last seven.
Will Randall opened the scoring in the 13th minute before Josh Davisonās equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
But Omar Bugiel pounced with 20 minutes to go to end the Donsā brilliant 10-game unbeaten run in the league, which started after they lost at home to Sutton in October.
āIām really pleased and itās something I knew was possible at the start of the week,ā said Gray.
āWe started it with three points at Crawley and ground one out on Thursday night against Gillingham and I thought we were excellent today.
āWe were outstanding, especially in that first half an hour, to get that nine out of nine.
āIt was definitely our best performance of the season so far. Itās been so stop-start for us.
āTo be sitting here now at the turn of the year on 35 points after the difficulties weāve been through shows the great character weāve got in the squad.
āIt was frustrating we didnāt have the game out of sight in the first 30 minutes. We gave away a silly free-kick and it allowed them back into the game.
āWe did everything right, some great football, some great movement and unfortunately we couldnāt capitalise with more goals in the first half.
āWe defended everything well and it was a shame we couldnāt make it more up the other end.
āBut itās a brilliant three points for us and Iām really pleased with the week or so weāve had.ā
Dons boss Johnnie Jackson admitted his side were unrecognisable in the first half as their impressive unbeaten streak came to a bitter end at their local rivals.
And the former Charlton boss suggested the schedule played its part after a third game in a week.
He reflected: āWe werenāt at our best today to be honest. I thought we were poor first half. We just didnāt show up and for the first half hour we looked off it and a bit leggy.
āWe were just a yard short I thought. We werenāt the team Iāve seen in the previous 10 league games really and itās disappointing.
āItās disappointing it took us that long to get going. Perhaps itās the tough schedule and maybe itās a game too many in the legs.
āI didnāt recognise that first 30 minutes. We havenāt got the biggest of squads and thatās where weāre at.
āIāve had to lean on a group of 13 or 14 players really to get us through. Perhaps that showed a little bit today.
āAyoub Assal is ill and was a big miss. He went in from training yesterday because he was under the weather and worsened overnight. He wasnāt well enough to be involved.ā