Last season’s visit to Newport, at the end of February, saw one of U’s best away performances of the season as goals from Coby Rowe and Ali Smith secured a 2-0 win, and at that stage U’s form was such that a play-off place was a serious possibility. Subsequent form saw Sutton drop back to mid-table, and indeed that win remains U’s last away win in the league. It also banished memories of the previous season’s visit when Newport came from 2-0 down at half time to win 3-2 with a stoppage time penalty.

It’s been something of an inconsistent start for Newport, who finished last season one place and one point behind Sutton. They were beaten heavily at Accrington on the opening day but recovered with a Carabao Cup win over Charlton and a 4-0 league win against Doncaster, since when they have lost 4-2 at Crewe but won 3-0 at Forest Green. Striker Will Evans, who signed at the start of last season from Welsh Premier League football, has scored five goals in those league games, plus one against Charlton, and goes in to the weekend as the division’s leading scorer. Strike partner Seb Palmer-Houlden, on a season long loan from Bristol City, has also impressed in the early games.

Like U’s, Newport have a Carabao Cup second round tie to look forward to next week, with Premier League Brentford visiting Rodney Parade.

Sutton have lost three in a row after the successes of the first week against Notts County and Cambridge United, and will again be without Harry Smith as the striker sits out the last game of his three game ban. However manager Matt Gray reports that both Sam Hart and Aiden O’Brien will be in contention for selection after recovering from injury, although goalkeeper Steve Arnold remains on the sidelines with a hip injury.

Referee Matt Corlett is in his first season on the EFL list and is taking charge of a Sutton game for the first time.

Tickets remain on sale on line by clicking here but must now be collected from the Newport ground on the day. Prices are £24 for adults, £20 for age 60 and over, £18 for ages 16-21, £12 for age 12-15, £10 for age 6-11 and free for children under 6. Tickets can be bought at the ground on the day of the game from the away end ticket booth at gate 6, but carry a £2 increase on the above prices. The ticket booth opens at 1.30pm, and this is also where pre-bought tickets can be collected.

Our accommodation is in the covered Bisley Stand, and we will be wearing our white kit.

Supporters not travelling can listen to a full audio commentary through our iFollow service, and overseas supporters can watch the game live. For the audio commentary in the UK, passes can be bought for £2.50, but monthly passes are available for £4.49 and season passes for £45, both excellent value. Overseas supporters can watch every league and EFL Trophy game, with a match pass costing £10. Again monthly passes are available at £25 and time is running out to buy an annual video pass at the early bird price of £140 which runs out at the end of August. Click here for full details and to purchase a pass.

Anyone who wants to watch a game live on Saturday can see if our Academy side can maintain their 100% record against another side to have won both their first two EFL Youth Alliance games, AFC Wimbledon. The game is at the KCL Kings Sports Ground in Windsor Avenue, New Malden (KT3 5HA), kick off 10.30am.

For supporters travelling to Newport, the Supporters’ Club coach leaves the VBS at 8.45am.

Independent travellers driving should leave the M4 at junction 24 and take the B4237 towards Newport (East). In about two and a half miles at a set of lights turn left, still signposted the B4237. Go under a railway bridge and turn right at the next set of lights in to Corporation Road. The ground and the away supporters’ entrance is on the left. There is no parking at the ground, but street parking is available around the ground and the town centre multi-storey car parks are only a short walk away.

By rail you can travel from Paddington to Newport on an hourly service at 48 minutes past the hour, taking about an hour and a half. It’s about a ten minute walk from the station to the ground,- come out of the main exit and turn left in to Queensway. Keep going until you get to a large roundabout, and take the pedestrian underpass to the centre of the roundabout. Turn left towards Clarence Pier and the River Usk. On returning to ground level cross the bridge in front of you over the river and turn right in to Rodney Parade. Due to Saturday’s rail strike the last return train is at 17.31.