After beginning the season with four consecutive 1-0 wins, including one at Sutton when Ashley Nadesan’s early goal proved decisive, Gillingham were prominent at the top of the table early in the season but a run of three games without a win saw them part company with manager Neil Harris in early October. Stephen Clemence took over at the start of November, and he will be looking to reverse a similar run of form which has seen the Gills fail to win or score in their last three league games, most recently a 2-0 defeat at home to Crawley on Tuesday and they have now dropped in to the lower half of the table, with their goals tally of nineteen the lowest in the division. However an impressive FA Cup win at home to Charlton is also in their recent form, earning a home tie against Premier League Sheffield United in the third round. 

It’s exactly a year ago to the day that Sutton beat Gillingham at the VBS Community Stadium, Craig Eastmond scoring a very late winner, and U’s will hope for a repeat performance this evening to back up the result at Wimbledon on Tuesday. Interim manager Jason Goodliffe reports no new injury concerns after the game at Plough Lane so will select from a similar squad, and while Eastmond, Louis John and Hisham Kasimu are unlikely to feature tonight, all three are back in full training and should be available for selection soon.

Referee David Rock was in charge of the corresponding fixture last season, when Alex McDonald’s injury time goal settled a poor game. In his fifth season as an EFL referee, he has regularly refereed Sutton games since our National League South days, and most recently took charge of the home game with AFC Wimbledon in August.

There are no tickets available on the gate for Sutton supporters this evening, with the club office open until 11am for anyone who still wants to buy a ticket for the game. Any tickets ordered but not collected can be picked up this evening from the away turnstiles at the end of Priestfield Road.

If you can’t get there, the game will be live streamed, with a match pass costing £10. Overseas viewers can still take advantage of the half-season ticket offer, with a pass costing just £85 to cover all league games to the end of the season, though not FA Cup ties. Click here for more information and to buy the required pass.

Those travelling by car should leave the M2 at junction 1 and take the A289, following signs to, and then going through, the Medway Tunnel. Continue on the A289 across two sets of traffic lights then take the third exit at The Strand roundabout, turning in to Church Street. Continue up the hill and across the level crossing, and the turnings to the ground are then on the left. There is no on site parking, and street parking immediately around the ground is restricted to permit holders. Parking is available for £5, cash only, at Barnsole Road Primary School, ME7 2JG, about a ten minute walk from the ground. The car park is clearly signposted and has capacity for around 50 cars with an overflow area if required for another 20. The car park is gated and open from 6.00pm to 10.30pm, although it is locked ten minutes before kick off and re-opened ten minutes after the final whistle.

By rail, leave Sutton at 26 or 56 minutes past the hour and change at London Bridge, total journey time just under two hours. The return at 21.57 has changes at London Bridge and Blackfriars, after which the 22.30 requires changes at London Bridge, Norwood Junction and West Croydon – in both cases you won’t be back in Sutton until after midnight. On leaving Gillingham station turn left on to Balmoral Road. Walk for about five minutes down Balmoral Road until you come to the end. Straight opposite Balmoral Road you will see Priestfield Road. The away turnstiles are located at the top of Priestfield Road. The walk from the station should take no longer than ten minutes.