It’s been a grim season for Rochdale, who have been in the bottom two for much of the campaign and despite a brief upturn in form after the appointment of Jimmy McNulty as manager at the end of March, which saw his first two games end in victories, a run of four subsequent games without a win has sealed their fate. McNulty took over after Jim Bentley had left the club following a defeat at fellow strugglers Crawley, Bentley himself having replaced Robbie Stockdale just before the end of August. Saturday’s game will be their last home game as an EFL club 102 years after they joined the competition on the formation of the regionalised third divisions in 1921.

Last season’s visit to the Crown Oil Arena was a disappointing one for U’s, who played over half the game with ten men after Richie Bennett’s sending off, but who came back from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 in the 90th minute before conceding an injury time goal. At Sutton U’s won 3-0 last season and this term Will Randall’s goal direct from a corner was enough to give U’s the points.

That result ended a run of three straight league and cup defeats, and five games without a win, and U’s head north on Saturday in similarly poor form, last week’s defeat at Colchester a fifth in a row and the last win coming against Crawley in early March. Without a game in midweek, U’s dropped in to the lower half of the table and will be looking for enough points in the last two games to move back in to the top twelve, with ninth the highest achievable position.

Ben Goodliffe came off at half time at Colchester with an injury and a late decision will be made on him, while U’s have several other injury and illness concerns ahead of the trip to Rochdale, with manager Matt Gray confirming that Craig Eastmond and Louis John will not appear again this season after their injuries over the past couple of months.

Saturday’s referee is Ben Toner, who is in his eighth season as an EFL referee and earlier this month took charge of the Papa Johns Trophy final at Wembley. 

Live coverage of the game is available through our iFollow service, with an audio commentary in the UK for £2.50 and a live stream for overseas supporters, price £10. Click here to buy the relevant pass, and supporters not travelling to Rochdale can also watch our academy side in action in the morning, with a home game against Oxford United in the EFL Youth Alliance at the VBS, kick off 11am. The disability side then host Woking Wolves at 2pm.

Tickets for the game at Rochdale are available on line through this link. Prices are: Adults £24; Senior (age 65+) £19; Age 12-21 £14; Age 11 and under £7. Tickets can be bought on line right up to kick off – the link is open until 4.30pm on the day of the game.

Any supporters requiring wheelchair accommodation, or ambulant disabled supporters requiring a carer, should phone the Rochdale ticket office on 01706 644648 (option 1).

Tickets will be on sale at the ground on Saturday at no extra cost. There is a portacabin for cash sales, opening at 1pm,  next door to the Football in the Community Office. Card sales are available at the ticket office which is likely to get very busy, so we would recommend buying in advance.

Visiting supporter information can be found here. A fan zone to which Sutton supporters are welcome opens at 11am in the Ratcliffe and Dale Bars, with a happy hour until 12.30pm. Saturday will see Rochdale marking the passing of those associated with their club over the past year, with a minute’s applause before the game.

The Supporters’ coach leaves the VBS at 7.30am

By car leave the M62 at junction 20 and follow signs for Rochdale along the A627(M). At the first set of traffic lights keep left, sign posted Bury and Rochdale Town Centre. Bunnings Warehouse will be on your right hand side, follow this road until the next set of traffic lights. Here you need to be in the second lane of four lanes, to head straight across (sign posted Blackburn). Follow this road (Roch Valley Way) until the next set of traffic lights, remaining in the left hand lane. At the traffic lights go straight ahead on to Sandy Lane (the Cemetery pub should be on your right hand side). Continue along this road and the Stadium is on your right hand side after approximately half a mile. There is no on site parking for supporters but side street parking is available. Parking restrictions are in place in yellow coned areas.
 
By rail, although Rochdale is close to Manchester the easier trip is actually to travel from King’s Cross and change at Leeds. Leave King’s Cross at 09.03, 09.33 or 10.03 to arrive at 12.46, 13.12 or 13.46, and return at 10 or 50 minutes past the hour. Rochdale station is about two and a half miles from the ground, so take a taxi or catch the tram to Rochdale Town Centre, close to the Interchange Bus Station where you can catch an R2 or 468 which go close to the ground. From Euston, where there is a reduced service on Saturday due to engineering works, you need to transfer from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Victoria then catch the tram to Rochdale Town Centre or train to Rochdale. Further details at www.nationalrail.co.uk and www.tfgm.com.