That wasn’t the case for the Lancashire side on Tuesday, when a trip to Walsall proved in vain as the game was called off shortly before kick off, denying Morecambe the chance to move within a point of the play-offs. After being relegated from League One last season they have had an inconsistent season, at times looking set for a serious promotion challenge and at others in danger of being dragged in to trouble at the other end of the table, but two wins in their last three games have them in the top half of the table and four points outside the play-off zone, even though they have not won in their last six home games. When they visited Sutton in October they were in the middle of a good run and Joel Senior’s stoppage time goal earned the points after goals from Harry Smith and Ben Goodliffe had seen U’s come back from 2-0 down and seemingly on course for what would have been a deserved point.

Striker Michael Mellon, on loan from Burnley, scored in that game and was a key factor in Morecambe’s good form at that stage but he was recalled in January and is now on loan at Dundee, while manager at the time of that game Derek Adams also subsequently headed to Scotland to take over at Ross County, although he then left them this week. Ged Brannan, who joined the coaching staff at the start of the season, was appointed as his replacement in November.

Sutton manager Steve Morison hopes to be able to select from a full squad as U’s look for a first win since Boxing Day to close the gap on the sides above U’s at the foot of the table, having come agonisingly close last weekend against Doncaster when a stoppage time penalty denied U’s victory.

Saturday’s referee is Peter Wright, who is in his sixth season as an EFL referee and was last in charge of a Sutton game in November at Colchester.

Admission is available on the day tomorrow, ticket prices are: Adults £25; Age 65+ £20; Young Adult(age 18-22) £15; Junior(age 14-17) £7; Child (under 14) £5. Under 14s must be accompanied by a responsible adult(over 18) and children under 2 are not permitted in the ground, neither are pushchairs or prams. Disabled and ambulant disabled supporters pay the relevant price with a carer admitted free. Our accommodation is in the Beyond Radio A Stand with admission through turnstiles 3 and 4.

An away supporters’ guide to Morecambe can be found here

For supporters not making the trip we will have an audio commentary on our iFollow service, with a match pass costing £2.50 and monthly passes available for £4.49. Overseas supporters can watch a live stream of the game for £10. Click here to buy the relevant pass.

The Supporters’ Club coach, which is now full, leaves the VBS at 7am on Saturday morning. 

For independent travellers going by car, leave the M6 at junction 34 and follow the A683 Bay Gateway road towards Morecambe until the junction with the A589, where you then turn right on to the A589 Morecambe Road. At the next roundabout (Shrimp roundabout) take the first exit in to Westgate and you will come to the ground on the right. There is no on site parking, the nearby Westgate Primary School (LA4 4XF) offers parking for £5 (cash only) within a five minute walk from the ground, and town centre car parks are just under a mile from the ground.

BY RAIL. Trains run from Euston with a change required at Lancaster in all cases. Leave at 09.30, 10.30 or 11.30 to arrive at Morecambe at 12.26, 14.10 and 14.25 respectively.  Return at 17.31, changing additionally at Preston and Crewe, 18.20, changing just at Lancaster, or 18.42, changing at Lancaster and Crewe. The station is about 25 minutes walk from the ground. Turn left out of the station in to Central Drive, continue to the sea front then turn left along the promenade. Take the 5th left, Regent Avenue and keep going on in to Westgate to get to the ground.
 
The academy team begins a run of four games in ten days with an away game against Luton, the EFL Youth Alliance South East Division leaders, at The Brache, LU1 3JH, kick off 10.30am. They then face two games against Stevenage, one of which is at Tooting & Mitcham next Tuesday, before finishing the fixtures at the VBS on Tuesday week against MK Dons.