The appointment of Steve Cotterill as Forest Green’s third manager this season has sparked a recent improvement in form and three wins in their last five games, which was almost four as Wrexham needed a stoppage time penalty to come away from The New Lawn with a point last month, saw them climb out of the bottom two on Tuesday night at Colchester’s expense, and put them six points clear of Sutton having played a game fewer.
 
Tuesday’s win at Bradford City saw two goals from Christian Doidge, their record scorer who was a key member of the side during their rise to the Football League, scoring in their play-off final win against Tranmere in 2017, and who rejoined the club in January from Hibernian and whose return has offset the recent absence through injury of leading scorer Matt Stevens.
 
Forest Green have won four games at home this season, most recently against Walsall last Saturday, with Colchester, Crawley and Tranmere also beaten at The New Lawn.
 
Sutton lost at the New Lawn in U’s first ever EFL game back in August 2021 and drew 1-1 on the only National League visit five years earlier, while Forest Green are looking to complete a double this season after winning 1-0 at the VBS in September.
 
Saturday’s referee is Ben Toner, in his ninth EFL season. He last refereed a Sutton game at Rochdale at the end of last season, and was the referee for the EFL Trophy final at Wembley last season.
 
Tickets will be on sale at the ground on Saturday, Under 18s admitted free if accompanied by a full paying adult to a maximum of three per adult. Prices are: Adults £23 seated, £21 standing; Over 65  £18 seated, £7 standing; Age 18-21 £14 seated, £11 standing; Unaccompanied age 12-17 £8 seated, £7 standing. Much of the accommodation on sale on the day is likely to be for uncovered terracing.
 
For supporters not travelling to the game we wil have our usual audio commentary on our iFollow service, with a match pass priced £2.50 or a monthly pass available for £4.49. Overseas supporters can watch the game for £10. Click here to buy the relevant pass. There is an Academy game at the VBS on Saturday morning against Stevenage, kick off 11.00am, with Ambers’ Bar open all afternoon and evening – see here for details.  
 
The Supporters’ Coach leaves at 10.00am, fare £25 return and is now full.
 
Supporters travelling to the game by car should note the closure of the M25 between Wisley and Chertsey this weekend and leave plenty of time for the trip. The ground is in Nailsworth, on the A46 between Stroud and the M4, but has no public parking. There is a park and ride scheme operated from Renishaw, on the A46 just north of Nailsworth (postcode GL5 5EY), with parking costing £3 on a first come first served basis, contactless or card payment only, and open from 12.30pm. Either leave the M4 at junction 18 and take the A46 north, or leave at junction 17, take the A429 to Malmesbury and then the B4014 through Tetbury to Nailsworth, then turning right on to the A46 to get to the park and ride. To get to the ground turn left off the A46 in to Spring Hill just after the B4014 junction and follow this road to the top of the hill.
 
By rail: The closest station is Stroud, reached by a direct service from Paddington at 32 minutes past the hour taking about an hour and a half. From there take the 63 bus, which is hourly at 40 minutes past the hour, and takes twenty minutes to get to the ground. The return bus is at 17.16, and return trains at 17.34, 18.34 or 19.33, the 18.34 requiring a change at Swindon.