Josh Coley and Harry Beautyman scored the goals in October to give Sutton a 2-1 win, U’s first win over the Bantams, and gave rise to optimism that better times were round the corner. Since then, though, Sutton have won just one more league game, at AFC Wimbledon on Boxing Day, and have lost to Morecambe and Wrexham in the past week, the latter result seeing U’s back at the foot of the table after Forest Green’s win at Barrow.

Bradford came to the VBS in October with Kevin McDonald in temporary charge after a disappointing start to the season had cost Mark Hughes his job, and while the appointment of Graham Alexander failed to yield an immediate improvement as City lost the first two games under his control, an impressive unbeaten run either side of Christmas moved them away from the lower reaches of the table.  Two wins this week against sides in the play-off zone, Wrexham and MK Dons, the latter having sacked Graham Alexander in October, have them going in to Saturday’s game four points outside the play-off zone that they finished in last season before losing to Carlisle in the semi finals.

Harry Beautyman will miss out on the chance to repeat his goalscoring performance from the home game at Bradford, having limped off during Tuesday’s game against Wrexham, the only injury concern that U’s took out of the game.

Saturday’s referee is Marc Edwards, in his fifth season as an EFL referee who last officiated in a Sutton game in January last season when he was in the middle for the 2-2 draw at Tranmere.

While no physical tickets are on sale at the ground on Saturday, admission will still be possible on the day by scanning the large QR code next to the away turnstiles in Midland Road and then buying the ticket on line. Prices are: Adults £25; Senior (age 65+) and Young Person(age 17-23) £20; Youth (age 12-16) £10; Junior (11 and under) £5. Any tickets that have been ordered through our system and not yet collected should also be picked up from the Midland Road turnstiles – no Sutton supporter should go to the main ticket office.

Anyone not travelling can follow an audio commentary on our iFollow service. A match pass costs £2.50 with monthly passes also available for £4.49. Overseas supporters can watch a live stream for £10. Buy the relevant pass here.

The Supporters’ coach leaves the VBS at 8am on Saturday morning.

For independent travellers, drivers should leave the M62 at junction 26 and take the M606 in to Bradford. At end of the motorway take the middle or right-hand lane and follow signs for Ring Road East (under the tunnel) onto Rooley Lane (signs for Leeds Bradford Airport). Go through the traffic lights by Asda then go left at the roundabout in to Wakefield Road, staying in the middle lane. Cross two roundabouts following signs to Shipley and Skipton on to Shipley Airedale Road, the A6037, which becomes Canal Road.  After Tesco and Smyths, go through the traffic lights and turn left on to Station Road, the A6177, and left again to Queens Road. Midland Road is second on the left. With no parking at the ground, street parking is available in Midland Road or Queens Road.

If travelling by rail, supporters are reminded that King’s Cross station is closed on Saturday and does not reopen until Wednesday. The best option is to travel from St Pancras at 02 minutes past the hour, changing at Derby and again at Leeds to arrive at Bradford Forster Square, a 5-10 minute walk from the ground (the line goes past the ground just before the station), just over three and a half hours later, so the 09.02 gets you to Bradford at 12.37. Return at 17.30 or 18.30, this time changing at Leeds and Sheffield, to arrive at St Pancras at 21.09 or 22.08. With King’s Cross closed, trains from St Pancras are expected to be busy. One piece of good news is that Thameslink services from Sutton to St Pancras are operating normally this weekend.

The academy side will be looking for instant revenge against Stevenage, who beat them 3-1 on Tuesday at Tooting, when the sides meet again at the Shephalbury Academy in Broadhall Way, SG2 8NP, just down the road from Stevenage’s first team ground, on Saturday morning, kick off 10.30am. Victory will keep U’s hopes of a top three finish in the EFL Youth Alliance South East Division ahead of next Tuesday’s game against MK Dons at the VBS.