The U’s are back in action after enjoying a weekend off due to a frozen pitch in Halifax, and welcome Solihull Moors to the VBS Community Stadium tomorrow night.

Last Time Out

Finley Barbrook’s first goal for Sutton United was enough to seal victory over Maidenhead United, ending a run of five games without a win at home.

The U’s enjoyed most of the chances on goal throughout the first half and opened the scoring through Barbrook after a wonderful team move saw Jeremy Sivi breeze past Owen Cochrane and pick out Will Davies in the box, who took a touch before teeing up the Ipswich Town loanee on the edge of the box who stroked a superb strike into the bottom corner.

While chances would be few and far in the second half, Steve Morison’s remained incredibly firm with Jack Sims barely having a save to make, securing a crucial three points at home.

Watch the highlights here.

The Opposition

Founded just 17 years ago, Solihull Moors have enjoyed a positive start to life after entering the Conference North in 2007, and have since flirted with promotion to the EFL on numerous occasions.

After being promoted to the fifth tier in 2016, Solihull avoided relegation in their first two campaigns as a National League club and established themselves in the division, before narrowly missed out on promotion to League Two for the first time ever in 2022 and 2024, losing in the play-off final on both occasions to Grimsby Town and Bromley.

While the Moors had followed their first promotion attempt with a disappointing 15th place finish under Neal Ardley, they have avoided second season syndrome under current boss Andy Whing, and currently sit eighth in the division after 18 games, with just a point separating them from the play-off places.

With high profile departures in Connor Maycock and Mark Beck and notably star man Joe Sbarra, Moors’ fans would have been forgiven if they had expected another season to rebuild, but the Birmingham-based outfit have gone from strength to strength in their absence after recruiting plenty of fifth tier experience in the summer.

Promotion-winners John Bostock and Jordan Tunnicliffe arrived from Notts County and Wrexham AFC along with experienced goalkeeper Laurie Walker from Barnet, adding plenty of steal to the club’s backline and midfield. They would be joined by Sam Bowen, Bradley Stevenson and Ollie Tipton, while the arrivals of Connor Wilkinson, James Gale and in recent weeks highly tipped prospect Michael Adu-Poku from Watford, have added plenty of quality up front.

Recent Form

Solihull Moors 3-4 Sutton United

Ebbsfleet United 0-6 Solihull Moors

Solihull Moors 3-3 Altrincham

Solihull Moors 3-0 Maidstone United

Gateshead 1-0 Solihull Moors

Solihull Moors 2-1 Woking

The Manager

Andy Whing

Former right back Andy Whing is the man in the dugout at the ARMCO Arena, having taken charge of the Moors since leaving Banbury United in 2023.

Known for his time at Coventry City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Oxford United, Whing hung up his boots after a four-year stint with the latter and transitioned into coaching, kicking off his career with a spell as head coach of Kidderminster Harriers’ Under-23’s. He would later join Hereford alongside former manager Russell Slade, before taking charge of Banbury in 2020. A successful spell in Oxfordshire saw him lead the club to the Southern League Premier Division Central Title during the 2021/22 season, promotion being secured with four matches remaining and subsequently earning promotion to the National League for the first time in their history, before maintaining their National League North status the following season.

He would resign from his role in 2023 and joined Solihull ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, enjoying a positive start to the season which saw him named as the division’s Manager of the Month for August. Whing would end the season with the Moors fifth in the table, and a shot at promotion as a result. They would defeat FC Halifax Town and Barnet to reach the final, where they took Bromley all the way to penalties before being defeated, and lost again on spot-kicks the following week against Gateshead in the FA Trophy.

One to Watch

Jack Stevens

Top scorer Jack Stevens will be the danger man for the Moors on Tuesday night, and will be keen to continue his goalscoring form this season.

An Oxford United academy product, Stevens was at Kassam Stadium at the same time as manager Andy Whing, and following loan spells at Hungerford and Chippenham, departed Oxford permanently when Whing brought him to Banbury Town in 2021. The forward would score nine goals in 26 appearances for the club, before joining Solihull in 2022/23.

After playing a handful of times for the club in his first season, Stevens would be reunited with Whing when his former manager arrived at the ARMCO Arena in 2023, and he would go on to play 37 times in all competitions under the former Oxford defender, scoring ten goals including two in the play-offs against FC Halifax Town and Barnet.

Despite his side losing on penalties to Bromley in the final, Stevens has only improved on his performances from last season, and has already matched his goal tally in all competitions, including six goals from his last eight appearances.

Head-to-Head

Solihull Moors 0-0 Sutton United (05/04/2021)

Sutton United 4-1 Solihull Moors (05/12/2020)

Sutton United 0-0 Solihull Moors (25/01/2020)

Solihull Moors 2-0 Sutton United (08/10/2019)

Sutton United 2-2 Solihull Moors (08/12/2018)

Solihull Moors 2-2 Sutton United (18/08/2018)

Played for Both

Nana Boateng

U’s forward Nana Boateng arrived at the VBS Community Stadium in the summer, fresh off a stint at the ARMCO Arena which saw him contribute to the Moors’ run to the play-off final.

On loan from Millwall, Boateng had spent the first half of the season at Woking on a short-term deal, before returning to the National League on a temporary basis with a move to Birmingham. He would feature a handful of times for the club including a couple of cameos in the play-offs, and even scored his spot-kick in a penalty shootout that the Moors would lose in the final at the hands of Bromley.

Boateng would later be released by Millwall, joining Sutton United on a permanent deal and has appeared nine times for the U’s so far.

Team News

Lewis Simper is making good progress in his recovery from a knee injury and is back running, with the midfielder still a couple weeks away from a full return.

Dillon De Silva has returned from international duty having featured in Sri Lanka’s FIFA Series matches against Yemen, taking part in a win and a defeat in Doha, Qatar.

Meanwhile, new recruit Besart Topallaj will be available for selection after arriving on loan from Bromley last week.

You can watch Steve Morison’s full pre-match interview here.

Officials

Tuesday’s referee is Alan Young, who was in charge of Sutton’s 3-1 win at Southend in September and has been on the Football League list since 2018, refereeing several Sutton games in that time

How to Follow

Video

Supporters worldwide can watch a live stream on National League TV, by a purchasing a match pass here for £9.99.

Audio

There will be a Mixlr audio commentary available and will be posted on social media accounts before kick-off.

At the VBS

General admission tickets will be available at a discounted rate, and can be purchased tickets here.

For enquiries, supporters can contact the club over the phone at 02086444440 or via email at tickets@suttonunited.net.

Ticket Prices:

Adult: £10

Concession: £10

Junior: £5

U14: Free

A £4 increase will apply to seats and a further £3 increase will apply to tickets purchased on the gate.

This price discount will apply to away fans as well.

Kit Watch

The U’s will be wearing their amber home kit. You can purchase a replica version here.